Jan 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today distributed 65 lakh property cards among the people of rural areas under SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme virtually from New Delhi in 10 States and two Union Territories of jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The function in Jammu and Kashmir was physically attended by Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh at Kathua, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Jammu and various Deputy Commissioners at the district headquarters.
In the Union Territory of Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor Brig (Retd) BD Mishra attended the function in Leh.Officials told the Excelsior that a total of 37902 property cards were distributed in Jammu and Kashmir, the highest being 8000 in Kathua district alone by Dr Jitendra Singh, who also happens to be Lok Sabha member from the area. Kathua district got around 22 percent of the total property cards distributed in Jammu and Kashmir today, they said.
In Ladakh, a total of 15,855 property cards were distributed at nine places simultaneously in Leh and Kargil districts, the officials said.
Modi interacted with Varinder Kumar, a farmer from village Gurwal in Vijaypur area of Samba district and inquired from him about benefits of property card and status of other farmers.
Kumar replied that not only he and his family but entire village is happy after getting property cards. He said his as well as other people’s land disputes have been resolved after getting the cards.
“Now we can get loan from the banks and repair our houses,” he said.
The Prime Minister virtually distributed a total of 65 lakh property cards today taking total number of SVAMITVA cards given to the people in rural areas so far to 2.24 crore. Several Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, Governors and other dignitaries distributed the cards physically at various places in the functions held across 10 States and two Union Territories.
Union Minister of Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj S P Singh Baghel and Ministry of Panchayati Raj Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj were also present at the event in the Union capital.
Addressing the function through video conferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the distribution of property cards will bolster economic activities and help in poverty alleviation. He also interacted with some beneficiaries.
“Rural land digitisation is “furthering rural empowerment by leveraging the power of technology and good governance. The scheme will help people get loans and benefits of other Government schemes. Around 2.24 crore beneficiaries in villages will now have SVAMITVA property cards after 65 lakh cards are distributed today,” Modi said.
Asserting that property rights are a major challenge across the world, the Prime Minister said years ago, the United Nations had held a study, which revealed people did not have legal documents for property rights in several countries. The UN has said property rights are important for poverty alleviation.
Modi said an eminent economist had opined that property in villages is a “dead capital” because people cannot do anything with it, and it can’t help increase their income.
“India was also impacted by this challenge. People in villages have property worth lakhs of crores (of rupees), but they did not have papers for it. There were disputes, properties were snatched, and even banks did not provide loans over it,” he said.
Modi said Dalits, backward classes and tribals were the worst affected by this.
“After getting legal property rights, lakhs of people have taken loan. They have used this money to start their businesses. Many of these are farmers, for whom this property card is a guarantee to financial security,” the Prime Minister said.
Addressing after attending the function of property cards distribution at Leh, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Brig (Retd) BD Mishra said Todarmal, a Minister in Akbar’s rule started this process but that was meant for extracting money from the people.
“However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using this exercise so that money reaches to the people,” Brig (Retd) Mishra said, adding that the process for distribution of property cards will go on.
