Guntur: Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Chandrasekhar Pemmasani called on states to link Aadhaar numbers with land ownership records, known as Records of Rights (RoRs), to curb disputes and streamline benefits like crop insurance and farmer subsidies.
Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day National Workshop on Survey/Re-survey under the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Pemmasani outlined a centrally coordinated, technology-driven plan to survey and resurvey 300,000 square kilometres of rural agricultural land in five phases. The initiative, backed by Rs. 3,000 crore for its first phase, aims to modernise India’s outdated land records, which fuel over 66% of civil court cases and hinder economic progress.
The DILRMP, launched to digitise and integrate land records, seeks to create a transparent system where ownership matches ground reality. Pemmasani emphasised that clear records unlock land’s economic potential, enabling banks to offer credit, businesses to invest, and farmers to access schemes like PM-KISAN and Agristack. “If we want fast highways, smart cities, safe housing, and sustainable agriculture, we must start from the ground—quite literally,” he said. However, only 4% of India’s villages have completed surveys or resurveys, a task requiring extensive administrative, technological, and public efforts.
India Plans Tech-Driven Survey to Curb Disputes
Land disputes, rooted in records dating back to 1880–1915 surveys using chains and cross-staffs, clog India’s courts, with 25% of Supreme Court cases tied to property conflicts. In regions like the North-East and Union Territories, original surveys were never conducted, and many states lack updated maps reflecting ownership changes. Pemmasani noted that without political will and coordination, past survey efforts stalled. The new programme addresses this through aerial surveys using drones and aircraft, costing 10% of traditional methods, and leverages artificial intelligence (AI), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and high-accuracy equipment. States will handle ground verification, while the Centre provides funding, policy, and technology.
The initiative also includes NAKSHA, a project to modernise urban and peri-urban land records, covering 150 urban local bodies. With high land values and frequent transactions, urban areas face rising disputes and informal settlements, making accurate records vital for planning, housing, and municipal revenue. The Department of Land Resources is pushing states to adopt online, paperless systems for land registration and Revenue Court Case Management, enabling digital access and faster resolution of disputes.
Pemmasani highlighted the human cost of outdated records, particularly for small farmers, tribal communities, and rural women, who face exploitation without clear titles. “Land is not just an asset; it is identity, security, and dignity for 90% of our citizens,” he said. The reforms aim to shift land from a source of conflict—“Bhu-vivad”—to trust—“Bhu-vishwas.” The workshop, attended by Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad, Special Chief Secretary G. Jaya Lakshmi, and Department of Land Resources officials Manoj Joshi and Kunal Satyarthi, underscored collaboration between the Centre and states.
– global bihari bureau
