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Context:
The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has raised concerns over the slow progress of the SVAMITVA scheme, a flagship initiative aimed at providing legal ownership of residential properties in rural India using drone-based mapping and property cards.
Key Highlights:
Survey Backlog
- 30,000 villages across States and Union Territories are yet to be surveyed, as per the Committee’s findings.
- This backlog poses a challenge to achieving the target of full national coverage by 2025.
Objective of SVAMITVA Scheme
- Launched in April 2020 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
- Aims to provide record of rights to rural households by:
- Conducting drone surveys of inhabited areas.
- Issuing property cards (legal titles) to owners.
- Expected to enhance financial inclusion, reduce land disputes, and promote village-level planning.
Committee’s Recommendations
- Urged the Ministry to expedite drone surveys in remaining villages.
- Recommended better coordination with States/UTs for faster implementation.
- Suggested addressing technical manpower gaps and capacity building at local levels.