SVAMITVA Scheme

Why is in news? Round Table Discussion on Bankability of SVAMITVA Record of Rights

SVAMITVA (Survey of villages and mapping with improvised technology in village areas) scheme is a new initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

It aims to provide rural people with the right to document their residential properties so that they can use their property for economic purposes.

The scheme is for surveying the land parcels in rural inhabited area using Drone technology.

The survey shall be done across the country in a phase wise manner over the period 2020 -2025.

The scheme is proposed as a Central Sector scheme with a projected outlay of Rs 79.65 crores for the pilot phase (FY 2020 -21).

Objectives:

To bring financial stability to the citizens in rural India by enabling them to use their property as a financial asset for taking loans and other financial benefits.

Creation of accurate land records for rural planning.

Determination of property tax, which would accrue to the GPs directly in States where it is devolved or else, add to the State exchequer.

Creation of survey infrastructure and GIS maps that can be leveraged by any department for their use.

To support in preparation of better-quality Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) by making use of GIS maps.

To reduce property related disputes and legal cases

Coverage:

There are about 6.62 lakh villages in the country which will be eventually covered in this scheme. The entire work is likely to be spread over a period of five years.

Pilot phase:

The pilot phase is scheduled during 2020-21.

Pilot Phase extends to six pilot States (Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand) covering approx. 1 lakh villages and CORS network establishment is planned for two States (Punjab And Rajasthan).

For the States, which have already done Abadi surveys, the scope and the process of the survey will be decided in Phase II (post Pilot Phase), in consultation with the States and SoI.

Expected outcome:

The outcome from the scheme would include updating the ‘record-of-rights’ in the revenue/property registers and issuance of property cards to the property owners.

This would facilitate monetization of rural residential assets for credit and other financial services.

Further, this would also pave the way for clear determination of property tax, which would accrue to the GPs leading to better civic amenities.