Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Distributes 65 lakh Property Cards under SVAMITVA Scheme; Total Property Cards Distributed Reach 2.25 Crore Milestone

New Delhi. : In a historic and transformative moment for rural India, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today presided over the largest-ever distribution of property cards ceremony under the SVAMITVA Scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, empowering 65 lakh rural citizens with legal ownership documents in a single day. The distribution ceremony was attended virtually by Union Minister of Panchayati Raj Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel along with Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj Shri Vivek Bharadwaj. The event was also attended by Governors of several  States, Lieutenant Governors of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Chief Ministers of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils, along with other public representatives and senior officials. The event witnessed massive participation from citizens as well as Panchayat representatives and officials of different line Departments across 237 Districts, with 9 Union Ministers personally overseeing regional distribution ceremonies.

The momentous e-distribution ceremony, conducted via video conferencing, covered more than 50,000 villages across 10 States and 2 Union Territories, marking an unprecedented milestone in rural governance and empowerment. The distribution ceremony encompassed beneficiaries from Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. This remarkable achievement brings the total number of property cards distributed under SVAMITVA to 2.25 crore.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi remarked that five years ago, the SVAMITVA scheme was launched to ensure that the people residing in the rural areas receive their property cards. He remarked that different states refer to property ownership certificates by various names, such as Gharoni, Adhikar Abhilekh, Property Card, Malmatta Patrak, and Awaasiya Bhumi Patta. “Over 1.5 crore people have been issued SVAMITVA cards in the past 5 years”, said Shri Modi. In today’s program, he added that more than 65 lakh families had received these cards. The Prime Minister remarked that under the Swamitva Yojana, around 2.25 crore people in villages have received legal documents for their homes now. He extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the beneficiaries. Remarking that the 21st century presents numerous challenges, including climate change, water scarcity, health crises, and pandemics, the Prime Minister highlighted that another significant challenge the world faces is property rights and the lack of legal property documents. The Prime Minister cited a United Nations study that revealed many people in various countries do not have proper legal documents for their property. He added that the UN emphasized that reducing poverty requires people to have property rights. He highlighted that after receiving legal documents, lakhs of people had taken loans from banks based on their property, starting small businesses in their villages. He added that many of these beneficiaries are small and medium farmer families, for whom these property cards have become a significant guarantee of economic security. The Prime Minister noted that Dalit, backward, and tribal families were most affected by illegal occupations and long court disputes. He remarked that with legal certification, they would now be free from this crisis. He mentioned an estimate that once property cards are issued in all villages, it will unlock economic activities worth over 100 lakh crore rupees.

During the event the Prime Minister also interacted with five beneficiaries of the SVAMITVA scheme, who shared their experiences about how Svamitva has transformed their lives by minimizing disputes, enabling the monetization of assets, enhancing livelihoods and fostering economic empowerment. The beneficiaries included Shri Manohar Mewada from Sehore, Madhya Pradesh; Smt. Rachna from Sriganganagar, Rajasthan; Shri Roshan Sambha Patil from Nagpur, Maharashtra; Smt. Gajendra Sangita from Rayagada, Odisha; and Shri Varinder Kumar from Samba, Jammu & Kashmir.

Speaking at the historic event, Union Minister, Ministry of Panchayati Raj Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh emphasized on the unprecedented scale of the SVAMITVA Property Cards distribution, which has reached 237 Districts through coordinated physical programs. He underlined that the distribution of 65 lakh property cards marks a transformative moment, empowering an equal number of rural households with legal ownership rights. “When the village is strong, the nation is strong (गांव मजबूत होगा तो देश मजबूत होगा)”, the Union Minister affirmed, highlighting how the SVAMITVA scheme has become a cornerstone of rural empowerment. He particularly praised the Scheme’s consensus-based approach to property documentation, noting that this collaborative method has significantly reduced village disputes and strengthened community harmony.

The Union Minister highlighted that 2.25 crore rural families have benefited from the SVAMITVA Scheme so far.  He stated that these property cards not only facilitate access to banking services and formal credit but also serve as powerful tools for dispute resolution. Notably, the Union Minister pointed out the Scheme’s role in women’s empowerment, with many women now recognized as property owners or co-owners, marking a significant step towards gender equality in rural areas. “SVAMITVA is not just about property rights; it’s about making our villages self-reliant and our rural citizens Atmanirbhar,” the Union Minister stated. He elaborated on how the SVAMITVA Scheme is creating new employment opportunities and enabling rural entrepreneurship through improved access to financial services. This comprehensive approach, he emphasized, aligns perfectly with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, where rural India plays a central role in the nation’s progress and prosperity.

The SVAMITVA scheme, launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 24^th April 2020, has emerged as a game-changing initiative in revolutionizing rural land governance. The scheme has successfully mapped over 3.17 lakh villages using advanced drone technology, covering an impressive 67,000 square kilometers of rural residential land valued at Rs. 132 lakh crore. The success of SVAMITVA has garnered international attention, with India’s innovative land governance model set to be showcased at an International Workshop in March 2025 and the World Bank Land Governance Conference in May 2025. This global recognition highlights India’s leadership in leveraging technology for sustainable development and grassroots governance.