PM Distributes Over 65L Property Cards Under SVAMITVA Scheme

Says Will Bolster Economic Activities

- VINAY KUMAR

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday distributed more than 65 lakh property cards under the SVAMITVA scheme covering villages in 10 states. He hailed it as a move aimed at bolstering economic activities and helping in poverty alleviation.

PM Modi virtually addressed the event and also interacted with some beneficiaries. He also said rural land digitization is "furthering rural empowerment by leveraging the power of technology and good governance".

The property cards are being distributed to beneficiaries across more than 50,000 villages in 10 states—Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and two Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Modi said the scheme will help people get loans and benefits of other government schemes.

"Around 2.24 crore beneficiaries in villages will now have SVAMITVA property cards after 65 lakh cards are distributed today," the prime minister said.

"Property rights are a major challenge across the world. Years ago, the United Nations had held a study, which revealed people did not have legal documents for property rights in several countries. The UN has said property rights are important for poverty alleviation," he said.

Modi said an eminent economist had opined that property in villages is a "dead capital" because people cannot do anything with it, and it can't help increase their income.