Modi distributes property cards; pitches for harnessing of drones

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday virtually distributed e-property cards to 1,71,000 beneficiaries of 3,000 villages in Madhya Pradesh under the Svamitva scheme, saying the scheme would lead to growth of rural India.

He said the mantra of rapid and integrated development of villages and their modernisation could be possible by harnessing technology.

To this effect, he said drones are a vital cog in the wheel, and urged start-ups and other entrepreneurs to produce best-quality drones at competitive prices in India. The Union government has started the PLI scheme to facilitate this.

"Drones will be the next thing for surveys, mapping and demarcation of land and properties, service delivery," Modi said.

Svamitva, a Central scheme, entails survey of village population and mapping with improvised technology and aims to provide property rights to residents in rural areas.

This is being done through help of drones. The surveys of villages and properties have been accomplished in 60 districts across the country.

Modi said the Swamitva scheme, which is implemented by the Panchayati Raj Ministry, will usher in a new dawn of development in villages and empowerment of the residents.

The property card, which is an official certification of ownership of property, will be a financial asset to villagers to procure bank loans and other financial benefits, like in urban areas.

Villagers, including poor sections and small farmers, will not have to borrow money from individuals.

"The scheme will help them to become atmarnirbhar...through the villages the country will emerge stronger," Modi said.

He said the scheme was launched as a pilot project in selected villages in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. About 22 lakh property cards have been processed and made ready for distribution.

Now the scheme is being implemented across the country.

He said the scheme would help small farmers, who form a majority in the farming community, saying they had been neglected by policymakers for decades.

Modi said his government’s thrust is to empower the viilagers and poorer sections of society through various schemes.

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