Context: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi launched the distribution of e-property cards under the SWAMITVA scheme on Saturday on National Panchayati Raj Day through video conferencing. 4.09 lakh property owners were given their e-property cards on this occasion, which also marked the rolling out of the SVAMITVA scheme for implementation across the country. SVAMITVA which is Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas was launched by Prime Minister on 24th April 2020 as a Central Sector Scheme to promote a socio-economically empowered and self-reliant rural India. It paves the way for using the property as a financial asset by villagers for availing loans and other financial benefits. The Scheme will cover around 6.62 Lakh villages of the entire country during 2021-2025. The pilot phase of the Scheme was implemented during 2020–2021 in the States of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and select villages of Punjab and Rajasthan. And to analyse the impact of the scheme.
Key Highlights

• The SVAMITVA scheme has been implemented to benefit the population in rural areas and with the possession of e-property cards, they will now have a written document regarding their land ownership.
• Nearly 4.09 lakh property owners will be given their e-property cards on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day.
• The distribution of e-property cards will mark the rolling out of the SVAMITVA scheme for implementation across the country.

About SVAMITVA Scheme

• It is a Central Sector Scheme launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on National Panchayat Day i.e. 24th April 2020.
• SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas.
• Its nodal ministry is Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR).
• In the States, the Revenue Department / Land Records Department will be the Nodal Department and shall carry out the scheme with support of State Panchayati Raj Department.
• The Survey of India shall work as the technology partner for implementation.
• The pilot phase of the scheme was implemented during 2020-2021 in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and select villages of Punjab and Rajasthan.

Purpose of SVAMITVA Scheme

• It aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India.
• The demarcation of rural abadi areas would be done using Drone Surveying technology which provides the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners possessing houses in inhabited rural areas in villages.
• It would enable them to use their property as a financial asset for taking loans and other financial benefits from Bank.
• The scheme has the potential to transform rural India using modern technical tools of mapping and surveying.
• The scheme will cover around 6.62 lakh villages of the entire country during 2021-2025.

Objectives of SVAMITVA Scheme
The scheme seeks to achieve the following objectives:-

• To bring financial stability to the citizens in rural India by enabling them to use their property as a financial asset for taking loans and other financial benefits.
• Creation of accurate land records for rural planning.
• Determination of property tax, which would accrue to the GPs directly in States where it is devolved or else, add to the State exchequer.
• Creation of survey infrastructure and GIS maps that can be leveraged by any department for their use.
• To support in preparation of better-quality Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) by making use of GIS maps.
• To reduce property related disputes and legal cases

Additional Information
National Panchayat Day

• It is observed on 24th April every year because the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 came into force from 24 April 1993.
• The most significant aspect of this day is the diversification of political power in the hands of common men. 
• The National Panchayati Raj day is observed in the country since 24 April 2010.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj commemorates the following awards to the Panchayats on the occasion of National Panchayat Day
Awards are given under various categories namely,

• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar,
• Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar,
• Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award,
• Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award and
• e-Panchayat Puraskar (given to States/UTs only).

For the first time, the Prime Minister will transfer the award money (as Grants-in-Aid) directly to the bank account of the Panchayats concerned in real time.