5 Years of SVAMITVA Scheme

GS2 – Schemes

Context :

The SVAMITVA scheme marks its five-year anniversary.

Why SVAMITVA was Needed

• Precise Land Documentation: In many Indian villages, homes and land parcels were never systematically documented.
• Utilization of Property: In the absence of legal proof, residents were unable to leverage their properties for bank loans or government schemes.
• Reduction of Land Conflicts: Unrecorded land ownership often led to disputes, hindering the pace of rural economic development.

About SVAMITVA Scheme

• The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) initiative was launched by the Prime Minister on April 24, 2020, during National Panchayati Raj Day.
• The scheme aims to provide village household owners with a legal ‘Record of Rights’ and distribute ownership certificates based on land mapping through drone technology.
• Note: Agricultural lands fall outside the scope of this initiative.

Key Objectives

• To create reliable rural land records, aiding in rural planning and minimizing property disputes.
• To offer financial empowerment by allowing rural citizens to use their property for loans and other monetary advantages.
• To facilitate the collection of property taxes for Gram Panchayats or add to the state revenue wherever applicable.
• To establish a survey framework and develop GIS maps that different departments can utilize.
• To assist Gram Panchayats in formulating Development Plans (GPDP) through GIS-based mapping.

Salient Features

• Category: Central Sector Scheme.
• Purpose: To provide rural residents with ownership cards, supporting easier access to credit, faster dispute settlement, and improved governance.
• Executing Agencies: Ministry of Panchayati Raj, with technical assistance from Survey of India and National Informatics Centre Services Inc.

Major Accomplishments

• Issuance of Property Cards: More than 2.42 crore property cards have been issued, covering around 1.61 lakh villages.
• Drone-based Surveys: Surveys have been successfully conducted across 3.20 lakh villages, encompassing about 68,122 square kilometers.
• Global Recognition:
  • At a Land Governance Workshop, India highlighted its innovative practices, including drone surveying, digitalized property documentation, and transparent management under SVAMITVA.
  • At the India International Trade Fair 2024, the scheme demonstrated how drone and GIS technologies are empowering rural populations with legal land ownership.