SVAMITVA Scheme Empowers Rural India with Property Rights

Why in the news?

PM Modi distributed over 65 lakh property cards under the SVAMITVA scheme, which aims to unlock ₹100 lakh crore in economic potential and strengthen rural governance.

SVAMITVA Scheme Empowers Rural India with Property Rights

Benefits of the SVAMITVA Scheme:

  • Financial Empowerment:
    • Property cards allow rural households to use their land as financial assets for loans and other financial benefits.
    • Many beneficiaries have secured loans to start small businesses.
    • Particularly benefits small and medium farmer families.
  • Taxation and Land Records:
    • Facilitates property tax collection, benefiting empowered Gram Panchayats.
    • Enhances land liquidity and access to financial credit.
    • Creates accurate land records for rural planning, taxation, construction permits, and eliminating encroachments.
  • Rural Development: Strengthens governance and economic activities in villages by making property records accessible at Gram Panchayat levels.

Progress and Achievements

  • Initially piloted in 1 lakh villages across nine states.
  • Drone surveys completed in 17 lakh villages (92.1% of the target).
  • Scheme fully saturated in regions like Puducherry, Goa, Tripura, and Uttarakhand.
  • Over 67,000 sq. km of rural residential land surveyed, valued at ₹132 lakh crore.
  • Target to cover all 52 lakh villages by FY 2023-24.

What is the SVAMITVA Scheme?

  • SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas.
  • Launched on April 24, 2020, by PM Narendra Modi on National Panchayati Raj Day.
  • Aims to provide rural property owners with legal ownership through property cards.
  • Uses drones for surveying rural properties and creating GIS-based maps.
  • Property card distribution began on October 11, 2020.