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SVAMITVA Scheme: Objectives, Benefits, Implementation Process & Challenges

Team AckoOct 23, 2023

The Indian government inaugurated the Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) Scheme on National Panchayati Raj Day in April 2020. This ambitious initiative aims to survey India's rural lands and provide clear ownership rights to village residents. The scheme has the potential to transform rural lives.

Pilot Project

A pilot project covering over 4 lakh villages has already been completed across states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. How did they pull this off so quickly, you ask? Well, the Survey of India extensively used drones and mapping technology to conduct surveys and generate accurate village maps and land records. Talk about using improvised technology in village areas!

Contents

What is the Svamitva Scheme?
How does the Svamitva Scheme work?
Objectives of the Svamitva Scheme
Implementation Process of SVAMITVA Scheme
Key Benefits of SVAMITVA Scheme
Funding and Monitoring
Technology used in SVAMITVA Scheme
The Economic Impact of SVAMITVA Scheme
Challenges Involved
Legal Framework
Capacity Building
Convergence Potential
Wrapping up!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Svamitva Scheme?

The All about svamitva scheme is a transformative program that seeks to address the longstanding issue of property rights in rural India. This scheme aims to provide rural households with legal property titles for their residential land, enabling them to leverage their property for various purposes, such as accessing credit, participating in economic activities, and securing their future.

The Svamitva Scheme, short for "Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas," was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on April 24, 2020. It is an ambitious initiative that combines cutting-edge technology, such as the use of drones and modern surveying methods, with traditional land records to ensure accurate and reliable property mapping in rural areas.

How does the Svamitva Scheme work?

The Svamitva Scheme leverages technology to survey and map rural properties. Under this scheme, cadastral mapping is conducted using drones and other technological tools to accurately demarcate property boundaries and establish ownership rights. This digital mapping process eliminates disputes over land ownership and helps create a comprehensive land record system in rural areas.

The scheme involves collaboration between various government departments, including the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Revenue Departments, Survey of India, and State Drone Agencies. These departments work together to conduct surveys, collect data, and generate property cards, which are then distributed to the rightful owners.

Objectives of the Svamitva Scheme

The Svamitva Scheme is driven by several key objectives, which include:

Providing an integrated property validation solution in rural areas.
Promoting transparent property transactions and reducing land disputes.
Facilitating access to credit for rural households.
Enabling better urban planning and infrastructure development in rural areas.
Empowering rural citizens by recognizing their property rights.
Promoting gender equality by ensuring women's property ownership.

Implementation Process of SVAMITVA Scheme

The implementation of SVAMITVA across India's rural landscape is no small feat. It involves:

Establishing networks of reference stations for accurate positioning of land parcels
Using drones and GIS technology to survey and map inhabited rural areas
Ground validation and verification of mapped data
Issuing legal property cards or titles to individuals

States like Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have already initiated the scheme. The plan is to cover all villages in India in a phased manner over the next 5 years.

Key Benefits of SVAMITVA Scheme

Providing legal rights over rural household properties through SVAMITVA aims to bring several benefits:

Financial security - Lands can be utilised as collateral for accessing loans and other financial services
Dispute resolution - Clearly defined property rights help resolve ownership disputes
Proper tax collection - Updated land records enable proper calculation and collection of taxes
Planning - Accurate land maps aide better planning and governance of rural areas

With ownership rights, rural families are also encouraged to invest and invest their lands and assets.

Funding and Monitoring

The SVAMITVA scheme is entirely funded by the central government.
A budget of ₹79.65 crores was allocated for the pilot phase.
Additional funds will be provided in stages for nationwide coverage.
The Panchayati Raj Ministry monitors scheme progress in coordination with State Revenue Departments.
Regular field visits, audits, and geo-tagged progress photos are used for monitoring on the ground.

Technology used in SVAMITVA Scheme

The SVAMITVA scheme extensively leverages technology to survey and map rural areas:

High-resolution drone mapping is done to demarcate land parcels and boundaries
Accurate Geographic Information System (GIS) is created for each village
Satellite imagery from ISRO is used for verification and augmentation of maps
Online monitoring system tracks progress and land records digitization

Advanced technology like drones enables quick and accurate surveying even in remote villages with tough terrain.

The Economic Impact of SVAMITVA Scheme

Providing ownership rights is expected to positively impact the rural economy:

Land ownership will lead to increased investments in agriculture and allied sectors
Access to credit will drive growth of small businesses and entrepreneurship
Reduced disputes will lead to law and order improvements and save time/money
Tax revenue for the government will see an incremental rise
It will unlock the value of rural India's property and land assets

With accurate land records, banks and lending agencies are expected to increase financial services penetration in rural areas.

Challenges Involved

Some key challenges involved in the rollout of SVAMITVA:

Undulating terrain and remoteness of certain villages makes drone mapping difficult
Lack of basic infrastructure like roads and electricity in parts of rural India
Reluctance from certain sections to participate in surveys
Complexity in determining ownership in case of family disputes over land
Post-mapping field verification and distribution of property cards

Overcoming these challenges will require coordination between various government departments and use of innovative technological and community-driven solutions.

Legal Framework

The SVAMITVA scheme operates under the legal provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996. It is also supported by state-specific acts like the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 and the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Raj Avam Gram Swaraj Adhiniyam, 1993. Implementation follows the operational guidelines formulated by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Capacity Building

Recognizing that the scheme's success depends on adequate capacities, the Survey of India and National Informatics Centre (NIC) have trained revenue officials and gram rojgar sahayaks who will further build capacities of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Training covers aspects like the dynamics of drone flying, spatial data generation, field data collection using mobile apps, ground truthing, map reading, preparation of maps and textual reports.

Convergence Potential

To fully realise the vision of Gram Swaraj, convergence of SVAMITVA with other schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) will be undertaken. This convergence for economic development and poverty alleviation in rural areas will be planned during preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans.

Wrapping up!

The SVAMITVA scheme represents a significant milestone in strengthening rural land rights and enabling economic growth. By providing clear property ownership records to rural families, it aims to empower them financially while also facilitating effective village-level planning and governance.

While the scheme has witnessed promising progress so far, its nation-wide implementation remains an ambitious goal with numerous challenges to overcome. Extensive coordination between central and state government agencies, use of cutting-edge technologies like drone mapping, building capacities at the grassroots level, and driving convergence with other rural schemes will be vital.

If implemented successfully, SVAMITVA can transform rural living standards by unlocking the economic value of lands and properties. It can drive financial inclusion, agricultural growth and infrastructure development in India's villages. The scheme's objectives of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' align well with the dream of Gram Swaraj envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi. SVAMITVA has the potential to make this dream a reality.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about the Svamitva Scheme.

How does the Svamitva Scheme ensure accuracy in property mapping?

The Svamitva Scheme uses advanced technology such as drones and modern surveying methods to conduct accurate property mapping in rural areas.

Can property ownership under the Svamitva Scheme be used to access credit?

Yes, property ownership under the Svamitva Scheme enables rural households to access credit, thereby promoting financial inclusion and economic opportunities.

Does the Svamitva Scheme prioritise gender equality?

Yes, the Svamitva Scheme promotes gender equality by recognizing and safeguarding women's property ownership rights in rural areas.

What are the long-term benefits of the Svamitva Scheme?

The Svamitva Scheme has long-term benefits such as reducing land disputes, enabling infrastructure development, and empowering rural citizens by recognizing their property rights.

How can I obtain a property card under the Svamitva Scheme?

To obtain a property card under the Svamitva Scheme, you need to participate in the survey conducted by the government and fulfil the necessary requirements outlined by the authorities.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet and is subject to changes. Please consult an expert before making any related decisions.