Jammu, Jan 18: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday distributed 37,902 SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) property cards in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the transformative impact this initiative will have on the region’s socio-economic development.
Speaking at an event held at the DC office in Kathua, Dr Singh stressed the importance of the programme, saying, “The SVAMITVA programme will play a crucial role in enhancing socio-economic development in Jammu and Kashmir. The people of this region stand to benefit immensely from this initiative.”
The event was part of a nationwide campaign under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi presiding over the national-level initiative.
Dr Singh praised the Modi government’s vision, describing the SVAMITVA property cards as a revolutionary step towards empowering rural India with cutting-edge technology. “These property cards are transformative and will change the lives of countless families in rural areas,” he remarked.
He further added that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive development, ensuring that even the remotest villages are integrated into the mainstream of progress.
Referring to Pali village in Jammu, the Union Minister said that it has become the first fully SVAMITVA-enabled Panchayat in the Union Territory, a significant milestone in the journey toward transparency, dispute resolution, and digital empowerment.
“This initiative represents a clear step toward self-empowerment by providing digitized property rights. It helps create foolproof ownership documents, reducing land disputes and enabling rural residents to leverage their property for financial purposes,” he said.
Dr Singh also highlighted the socio-economic benefits of the property cards, which can serve as vital documents for securing loans and other financial services. He said the initiative supports rural women by enabling them to independently own and manage property, contributing to their economic and social independence.
Dr Jitendra revealed that a total of 2.19 crore SVAMITVA cards will be distributed across India, with 37,902 cards allocated to Jammu and Kashmir, including 8,000 for the Kathua district alone.
“This is a step toward realising the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), where rural citizens are empowered with tools to enhance their livelihoods and participate in the nation’s growth story,” he added.
