NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through video conferencing, distributed more than 65 lakh property cards to landowners across over 50,000 villages spanning 230 districts in 10 states and 2 union territories. The distribution was part of the government’s SVAMITVA Scheme, which aims to provide property rights to rural residents.
Highlighting the initiative, PM Modi described the day as a historic milestone for rural India. "Today marks a significant day for the villages of our country and the rural economy. The SVAMITVA Scheme was launched five years ago to provide legal proof of property ownership to village residents. In this time, around 1.5 crore people have received ownership cards. Today, over 65 lakh families have been handed these property cards," he said.
PM Modi also criticized previous governments for failing to address the issue of property rights in villages effectively. "Earlier governments did not take substantial steps to resolve this problem. When our government came to power in 2014, we took on this challenge by launching the SVAMITVA Yojana. Using drone technology, we began mapping houses and land in every village to issue proper ownership documents to villagers," he explained.
The Prime Minister further emphasized the importance of Gram Swaraj (village self-governance) and the positive impact of the initiative. "Our government is working sincerely to bring Gram Swaraj into reality. With the property ownership scheme, the planning and execution of village development have significantly improved. Property rights not only resolve Gram Panchayat issues but also enhance their financial strength," he added.
PM Modi highlighted the transformative steps taken in rural India over the past eight years, noting that almost 98% of land records have been digitized during this period. "In the past 7 to 8-yrs, land-records have almost been digitised, in line with Gandhiji's vision: "India's soul lives in its villages".... We have truly worked towards realizing this sentiment over the past decade," he remarked.
Additionally, the Prime Minister reiterated the government's focus on rural development and farmers’ welfare as 2025 begins. He announced the continuation of key schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and initiatives related to DAP fertilizers to benefit farmers.