SVAMITVA Scheme has completed five years with an extension till 2025-26 for Universal Coverage.
National Panchayati Raj Day
- National Panchayati Raj Day is observed annually on 24th April to celebrate the decentralization of power to grassroots-level governance in India.
- The day marks the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which came into force in 1993, giving constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
- It was first celebrated in 2010, when the Government of India officially designated 24th April to recognize the role of Panchayats in local self-governance.
- The key objective is to promote participatory democracy, empower rural governance, and highlight the importance of community-led development.
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About SVAMITVA Scheme
- SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) is a Central Sector Scheme.
- Launch: It was launched nationwide on National Panchayati Raj Day (24th April), 2021 as a reformative step to provide rural households with legal ownership of residential properties.
Success Stories Under SVAMITVA Scheme
- Smt. Sunita from Taropka, Himachal Pradesh, resolved a 25-year-old land dispute with her neighbor after receiving a legal property card through the SVAMITVA Scheme, ensuring security and peace for her family.
- Sh. Sukhlal Pargi from Falated, Rajasthan, used his SVAMITVA-issued property card to secure a bank loan of ₹3 lakh, gaining access to financial services and improving his family’s economic stability.
- These success stories reflect how the SVAMITVA Scheme is empowering rural citizens with legal land ownership, facilitating dispute resolution and financial inclusion.
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- Nodal Ministry and Implementing Partners: The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with State Revenue and Panchayati Raj Departments, Survey of India, and National Informatics Centre Services Incorporated (NICSI) for technology support.
- Objectives
- Create accurate land records to aid rural planning and reduce disputes.
- Enable rural citizens to monetize their property and access formal credit.
- Support property tax determination for Gram Panchayats or State exchequers.
- Develop GIS-based maps for multi-sectoral usage and better Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP).
Key Components of SVAMITVA Scheme
- Drone-based Large-Scale Mapping of village inhabited areas.
- Establishment of Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) Network for accurate geo-referencing.
- Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Initiatives: Campaigns to educate rural communities.
- Gram Manchitra Spatial Tools to improve village-level planning.
- Online Monitoring Dashboard and dedicated Project Management Units.
Four Identified broad areas of Impact under the SVAMITVA Scheme
- Inclusive Society: Enhances socio-economic status of vulnerable rural populations by ensuring access to formal property rights, empowering them with dignity and opportunities.
- Land Governance: Resolves land disputes through accurate drone-based mapping of Abadi areas, addressing a major cause of rural conflicts and improving legal clarity.
- Sustainable Habitats: Supports better infrastructure planning with high-resolution digital maps, enabling efficient allocation of resources for schools, health centres, roads, and utilities under GPDP.
- Economic Growth: Facilitates monetization of property for credit access and strengthens local economies through streamlined property taxation and improved ease of doing business.
Achievements of SVAMITVA Scheme
- Property Cards Issued: Over 2.42 crore property cards distributed across 1.61 lakh villages.
- Drone Surveys Completed: Mapping done in 3.20 lakh villages, covering 68,122 sq. km.
- Widespread Adoption: 31 States/UTs have signed MoUs; full coverage achieved in UTs like Ladakh, Delhi, and states such as UP and Chhattisgarh.
- Global Recognition: Showcased at the India International Trade Fair 2024 and International Workshop on Land Governance, attended by officials from 22 countries.
Significance for Rural Governance and Self-Reliance
- Empowering Property Owners: Legal ownership helps villagers access credit, enhancing financial inclusion and stability.
- Dispute Resolution: Clear documentation helps resolve long-standing property conflicts.
- Strengthened Panchayati Raj: Accurate land records improve planning and tax generation at the village level.
- Tech-Driven Transparency: Drone mapping and digital records promote accountability and inspire global emulation.
Future Roadmap
As SVAMITVA progresses into its extension phase till FY 2025-26, the focus will be on:
- Universal Coverage: Completing drone surveys and issuing property cards across remaining villages.
- Deepening Planning Tools: Enhanced integration of GIS data into GPDPs for smart village planning.
- Capacity Building: Training local governance bodies in spatial tools and land governance.
- Global Partnerships: Promoting India’s model of tech-enabled land governance for replication abroad.
SVAMITVA scheme is like a movement towards Gram Swaraj, enabling Atmanirbhar Bharat by turning land into a source of dignity, security, and prosperity for rural India.
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