Palghar, Maharashtra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the distribution of property cards and certificates under the Central Government’s SWAMITVA (Ownership) Scheme on Saturday, January 18.
The event will mark the distribution of property documents for village properties across Palghar district. Maharashtra’s Minister for Forest Development, Ganesh Naik, will then distribute property cards to 3,587 residents from 49 villages at the District Collector’s office in Palghar.
Dr. Govind Bodke, District Collector of Palghar, briefed the media about the initiative in an urgent press conference, highlighting that the Village Settlement Survey had been conducted under SWAMITVA Scheme, a national program launched by the central government in April 2020. It is designed to provide legal ownership documentation for residential and agricultural properties in rural areas, promoting empowerment and financial inclusion.
The property survey, authorized in February 2019, involves advanced drone technology for land mapping which has led to the preparation of property cards for several villages in Palghar district. Dr. Bodke shared that the Defense Ministry had conducted drone flying over 767 villages in Palghar, with property cards for 533 villages now ready.
So far, 35,473 property cards have been prepared, with 7,813 citizens from 191 villages already receiving their property certificates through home delivery by the revenue department, without utilizing any additional staff. In total, 3,587 residents from 49 villages will receive their property cards during the upcoming distribution.
The distribution on January 18 will also include 18 residents receiving their property cards from Minister Ganesh Naik. Dr. Bodke explained that the project is a collaborative effort between the Rural Development Department, the Revenue Department, and the Indian Survey Department, with the goal of modernizing rural infrastructure and improving the quality of life for rural populations.
The process begins with determining the boundaries of village settlements, followed by mapping through drone technology. The high-resolution images captured by the drones are sent to the Survey of India and are used to create detailed maps, which are cross-verified and finalized before property cards are generated digitally. This system provides easy access to land records, ensuring transparency and facilitating future land transactions.
Dr. Bodke emphasized that the SWAMITVA Scheme not only provides legal proof of ownership but also aids in securing access to credit and boosting socio-economic development in rural areas. The digitization of this process is a significant step towards modernizing land record management and improving rural citizens’ livelihoods.
The distribution event marks a crucial milestone in the ongoing effort to empower rural India, bringing legal property rights to thousands of residents in Palghar district.
