Survey of villages and mapping with improvised technology in village areas or SVAMITVA scheme is a Central Government initiative to enable an integrated property validation solution for rural India. This is the first time ever initiative that such a large-scale exercise involving most modern drone technology is being carried out to benefit millions of rural property owners covering all villages across the country. 

It was launched on April 24, 2020, which is also National Panchayat Day. The Nodal Ministry for this scheme will be the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR). 

In this article, we shall discuss the objectives, benefits and aspects of the scheme. This is also an important topic for candidates preparing for the upcoming IAS Exam. As questions based on the same may be asked in the GS 2 and GS 3 paper. 

Aspirants can also get the List of Government Schemes in India at the linked article. 

The candidates can read more relevant information from the links provided below:

About the SVAMITVA Scheme

• The full form of SVAMITVA is Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas.
• In each state, the Revenue Department / Land Records Department, along with the State Panchayati Raj Department and the Nodal Ministry will work to carry out the objectives of the scheme.
• The main aim of the scheme is to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India 
• SVAMITVA Property cards will be provided to the landowners by the Government authorities, under this scheme.
• Drone Surveying technology and Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) will be used for demarcation of rural abadi areas.
• This will help owners possess their houses in the inhabited areas and use them as an asset for loans or other financial requirements
• The mapping of areas using drones will done gradually is all the villages for a period of 4 years, starting from 2020, and ending in 2024
• Presently, the scheme is only applicable for 6 states: Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 
• The scheme is funded by the Central Government of the country and Rs 79.65 crores have been allotted for the pilot phase of the project. 

Candidates willing to know more about the Panchayati Raj System in India can visit the linked article.

Activities under SVAMITVA Scheme

The main activities under the Scheme are:

1. Establishment of Continuous Operating Reference System – CORS is network of reference stations that provide a virtual base station that allows access long-range high-accuracy network RTK corrections with centimetre-level horizontal positioning in real-time. CORS network supports in accurate Geo-referencing, ground truthing and demarcation of lands.
2. Large Scale mapping using Drones – Rural inhabited (abadi) area would be mapped by Survey of India using drone Survey. It would generate high resolution and accurate maps to confer ownership property rights. Based on these maps or data, property cards would be issued to the rural household owners.
3. Awareness program to sensitize the rural population about the surveying methodology and its benefits.
4. Setting of Programme management unit at National and State level.
5. Development/ Maintenance of Scheme Dashboard and integration of drone survey Spatial data/maps with Ministry’s Spatial planning application to support in planning at local level.
6. Documentation of best practices/ conducting National and Regional workshops.

Objectives of SVAMITVA Scheme

Given below are the main objectives of the SVAMITVA Yojana:

• This will bring abut financial stability among the people living in rural areas as the land/property can be used as an asset to get a loan or enjoy any other financial benefit
• Because of lack of knowledge, the land division and records are not well maintained and noted. Through this scheme, the Government intends to create accurate land records for rural planning
• It will help in the determination of property tax, which would accrue to the GPs directly in States where it is devolved or else, add to the State exchequer
• For the use of various Government departments, proper survey infrastructure and GIS maps shall be leveraged
• This will also improve and support the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) by making use of GIS maps
• A lot of legal and property-related disputes are still pending in the rural areas. This project will also help resolve these issues

To know the Difference Between Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat, candidates can visit the linked article.

Need for the SVAMITVA Scheme

The Government is constantly working for the development of the rural Indian population and the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) yojana is also an initiative for the same. 

• Once the pilot project is a success, over 6 lakhs rural people will be able to benefit through this scheme
• The ‘record of rights’ would be provided through the land/property registrations done through this scheme
• This would facilitate monetisation of rural residential assets for credit and other financial services

To learn more about a few other Government schemes for the benefit of the rural Indian population and farmers, candidates can check the links given below:

Benefits of SVAMITVA Scheme

• Official documents for the property will be provided to the rural people so that they can use it for further financial purposes
• Through regular inspections, and survey via drones will give the Government and the authorities a clearer idea of the land/property distribution
• A clarity on property rights will be attained through this project
• No illegal attempt to grab someone else’s property in the village will be practised once stricter rules and documents are provided
• The SVAMITVA Property card can also be used as a temporary identity for the land-owners

Scope of the Scheme

• All villages in the country which will be eventually covered in this scheme. The entire work is likely to be spread over a period of five years from April 2020 to March 2025.
• Pilot Phase of the Scheme implemented in FY 2020-21 covered States of Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh and CORS network establishment in the States of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

SVAMITVA Scheme [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

IAS Exam aspirants can also check the detailed UPSC Syllabus for the upcoming Administrative services exam. The detailed exam pattern along with the subject-wise syllabus can be checked by the candidates. 

All Government exam aspirants can also check the best Preparation Strategy for Competitive Exams at the linked article and accordingly start their preparation. 

Furthermore, to get the latest updates, study material, notes, preparation tips, etc. for the upcoming exams, candidates can turn to BYJU’S for expert assistance. 

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