Kathua district leads in property card distribution in the UT
*Modi engages with a farmer from Samba
By Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 18: Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the distribution of 6.5 million property cards to rural residents across 10 States and two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh—under the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme from New Delhi.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, the event was attended in person by Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in Kathua, and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Jammu, along with several Deputy Commissioners present at district headquarters. In Ladakh, the Lieutenant Governor, Brig (Retd) BD Mishra, participated in the function in Leh.
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Officials informed the Daily Excelsior that a total of 37,902 property cards were distributed in Jammu and Kashmir, with Dr. Jitendra Singh overseeing the distribution of 8,000 cards in Kathua district alone, accounting for approximately 22 percent of the total distributed in the UT today. In Ladakh, 15,855 property cards were distributed simultaneously across nine locations in Leh and Kargil districts.
During the event, Modi spoke with Varinder Kumar, a farmer from Gurwal village in Samba, asking about the impact of the property cards on him and his fellow farmers. Kumar expressed that the issuance of property cards has brought happiness not only to him and his family but to the entire village, as it has resolved land disputes and allowed residents to secure bank loans for improvements to their homes.
Today’s distribution raised the total number of SVAMITVA cards issued to rural citizens to 22.4 million. Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, Governors, and numerous dignitaries were involved in the distribution across various locations in the 10 States and two Union Territories.
Key figures like Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’, and Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, S P Singh Baghel, were present in the capital for the event.
In his virtual address, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the distribution of property cards would stimulate economic activities and reduce poverty. He noted that the digitization of rural land records enhances empowerment through technological advancement and effective governance. With the distribution of these cards, around 22.4 million rural beneficiaries now possess SVAMITVA property cards.
Highlighting the global challenges of property rights, Modi referenced a UN study revealing the lack of legal property documentation in many countries, underscoring its significance for poverty alleviation. He noted that in India, rural properties were often seen as “dead capital” due to the inability to leverage them for financial opportunities.
Modi pointed out that lack of legal property rights disproportionately affected marginalized groups such as Dalits, backward classes, and tribal communities. However, with the legal property rights granted through this initiative, many individuals have been able to secure loans to launch their businesses, providing financial stability.
After the property card distribution in Leh, Lieutenant Governor Brig (Retd) BD Mishra remarked on the historical context of property rights, noting that previous efforts by ministers like Todarmal during Akbar’s reign were aimed at revenue extraction. In contrast, he commended Prime Minister Modi’s approach as one focused on genuinely benefiting the citizens.
