New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed over 65 lakh property cards on Saturday under the SVAMITVA scheme, a landmark initiative aimed at enhancing rural economic activities and alleviating poverty.

The event, which was addressed by the prime minister virtually, included interactions with several beneficiaries.

Modi highlighted the transformative potential of rural land digitisation, stating it empowers villages through technology and good governance.

Beneficiaries from more than 50,000 villages across 10 states, including Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, as well as the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, received property cards.

With the latest distribution, around 2.24 crore rural residents now possess SVAMITVA property cards.

Modi explained that this initiative facilitates access to loans and other government schemes, addressing a long-standing issue of property disputes and lack of legal ownership documents in villages.

Citing a UN study, Modi pointed out that property rights are a global challenge and are critical for poverty alleviation.

He noted that rural properties, valued at lakhs of crores of rupees, had remained "dead capital" due to the absence of legal papers, leading to disputes, property theft, and lack of access to bank loans.

The prime minister expressed regret that previous governments did little to resolve this issue, particularly for Dalits, tribals, and backward classes, who were disproportionately affected.

The SVAMITVA Yojana employs drone technology to map houses and land in villages, issuing legal property documents to residents.

Modi noted that drone surveys have been completed in nearly half of India’s six lakh villages, with many beneficiaries already using their property cards to secure loans and launch small businesses.

The prime minister estimated that once property cards are issued nationwide, the scheme could unlock economic activities worth over Rs 100 lakh crore, significantly contributing to the country's economy.

He also emphasised that the digitisation of land records, which now covers 98% of land plots, is reducing corruption and disputes while easing access to land documentation.

Modi highlighted the foundational role of SVAMITVA and Bhu-Aadhaar in village development.

Bhu-Aadhaar numbers, which uniquely identify land plots, have been issued for 23 crore plots, streamlining property identification and planning.

Union Minister of Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan,' Minister of State S P Singh Baghel, and Panchayati Raj Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj attended the event, joined virtually by several Union and state ministers, including chief ministers.

The SVAMITVA scheme, launched in 2020, aims to empower rural India by providing 'Record of Rights' through advanced drone-based surveys.

Its objectives include property monetisation, improved access to institutional credit, reduced disputes, better property assessment for tax collection, and comprehensive village-level planning.

Physical distribution ceremonies were held in over 230 districts, with 13 Union ministers overseeing regional events to ensure the smooth dissemination of property cards.