Theme

Analytical and policy reform literature strongly suggests that it is the cumulative effects of many seemingly small reform initiatives which bring significant positive impact, the desired substantive and qualitative change. This column attempts to discuss one such initiative.

On Panchayat Raj Day (April 24, 2020) Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas), a scheme to update rural land records¹.

SVAMITA Scheme aims to map rural inhabited lands, and is motivated by the fact that land records, especially maps, are either inaccurate or do not exist for vast areas across the country.

For the average observer, this may not seem to be the most critical action area, yet this seemingly small initiative is likely to have far reaching consequences and is one of the fundamental reforms required.

The Scheme aims to provide the record of land rights to village household owners in rural areas and issue Aadhar-like property cards.

The desired outcomes however are contingent upon good design, and competent sustained implementation of the SVAMITVA Scheme.

An Overview of the SVAMITVA Scheme

SVAMITVA Scheme is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Panchayati Raj Departments, State Revenue Departments and Survey of India. It thus requires coordination and acceptance of the spirit of cooperative federalism.

It aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India, engaging the latest Drone Surveying technology, for demarcating the inhabitant (Aabadi) land in rural areas. The use of latest technology, and making rural persons aware of technological possibilities are likely to have positive dynamic effects on the rural people ².

As of October 2020, the scheme is being implemented in six states-Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Under this, mapping of rural housing land can be done using the latest survey methods and drones.

The mapping is to be done across the country in a phase-wise manner over a period of four years, from 2020 to 2024. The scheme would eventually cover around 0.66 million villages of the country.

About 0.1 million villages in these six states, along with establishment of Continuous Operating System (CORS) stations’ network across Punjab and Rajasthan, are being covered in the Pilot phase (2020-21).

All these six states have signed MoU with Survey of India for drone survey of rural areas and implementation of the scheme.

These states have finalised the digital property card format and the villages to be covered for drone-based survey. States of Punjab and Rajasthan have signed MoU with Survey of India for establishment of CORS network to assist in future drone flying activities.

Different States have different nomenclature for the Property Cards viz. ‘Title deed’ in Haryana, ‘Rural Property Ownership Records (RPOR)’ in Karnataka, ‘Adhikar Abhilekh’ in Madhya Pradesh, ‘Sannad’ in Maharashtra, ‘Svamitva Abhilekh’ in Uttarakhand, ‘Gharauni’ in Uttar Pradesh ³.

Most villagers do not have ownership documents of their homes. The SVAMITA Scheme aims to rectify this gap which creates a lot of uncertainty to the rural households, and prevents them from accessing financial services, such as bank loans.

On October 11, 2020, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) launched physical distribution of Property Cards to around 0.1 million property holders. They could download their property cards through an SMS link sent on their mobile phones ^4.

This is to be followed by the physical distribution of property cards by respective state governments. These beneficiaries are from 763 villages across six States, including 346 from Uttar Pradesh, 221 from Haryana, 100 from Maharashtra, 44 from Madhya Pradesh, 50 from Uttarakhand and two from Karnataka.

SVAMITVA Scheme Has the Potential to Help Transform Rural Economy, Society and Governance

The aim of this scheme is to provide rural people with the right to document their residential properties so that they can use their property to further improve household incomes, and widen their opportunities, and avail of property security.

This scheme is also expected to help in streamlining planning and revenue collection in rural areas and ensure clarity of property rights, and thereby help in resolving property related disputes.

The scheme has positive implications for the rural bodies. Many rural bodies are unsure of their land boundaries and therefor are not able to plan development, and generate much required own-source revenue.

This in turn is likely to enable creation of better-quality Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), leveraging the maps created under this programme.

• The scheme will help in streamlining planning and revenue collection in rural areas and ensuring clarity on property rights.
• The scheme will enable creation of better-quality Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), using the maps created under this programme.
• The Gram Panchayats are constitutionally mandated for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP) for economic development and social justice.
• The GPDP is based on a participatory process in convergence with schemes of all related Central Ministries/Line Departments related to 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution.

Land records  play an important role in the financial resilience of Gram Panchayats. Gram Panchayats that are able to generate their own revenues will be able to invest in the needs of their local communities.

 However, Gram Panchayats have a poor track record of generating revenues, especially through property tax.

The 2018 Economic Survey estimated only 19% of the potential property tax was being collected by Gram Panchayats.

An important reason for low collection is the lack of data, and clarity about the properties – where are they located, are they residential or commercial, what should be the appropriate tax value, and who should be taxed.

Figure 1 explains these inter-relationships ⁵.

Concluding Remarks

The SVAMITVA Scheme of modernising land records is a seemingly small, but potentially transformative initiative. It helps improve rural institutional arrangements, an area that has not received desired focus.

The SVAMITVA Scheme signals political determination by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to create reliable land records, empower rural bodies, and help enhance property rights and their security to households and to rural bodies, especially Gram Panchayats.

Such a scheme to succeed in its objectives requires both competence and persistence, and constructive mind set towards co-operative federalism.

References:

1. https://svamitva.nic.in/svamitva/ -Accessed on 20 October 2020
2. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1663540 -Accessed on 20 October 2020
3. https://indiapressrelease.com/pib-press-releases/physical-distribution-of-property-cards-under-the-svamitva-scheme/ - Accessed on 20 October 2020
4. https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/economy/pm-modi-to-launch-property-cards-under-svamitva-scheme-on-october-11.html -Accessed on 20 October 2020
5. Source is PIB and https://svamitva.nic.in/svamitva/-Accessed on 20 October 2020

Image Credit: Narendra Modi website