In a momentous ceremony today, President of India, Droupadi Murmu, presented the prestigious "Bhoomi Samman" award to 9 State Secretaries and 68 District Collectors, along with their teams. The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Steel & Rural Development, and Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Minister of State for Panchayati Raj.
The accolades were bestowed upon the State Secretaries and District Collectors, along with their diligent teams, for their exceptional accomplishments in achieving the core components' saturation under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
In her address, the President emphasized the importance of rural development for the overall progress of the nation. She highlighted that the modernization of land records is an essential prerequisite as a significant portion of the rural population relies on land resources for their livelihood. A comprehensive and integrated land management system plays a crucial role in fostering rural development.
During her speech, the President also stressed the significance of digitization in promoting transparency. The modernization and digitization of land records are expected to have a transformative impact on the country's development. Linking land records with various government departments will facilitate the effective implementation of welfare schemes. Additionally, digitization will prove instrumental in cases of document loss due to calamities like floods and fires.
One notable aspect of the Digital India Land Information Management System is the introduction of the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number, akin to the Aadhaar Card. This unique number is expected to streamline land utilization and enable the implementation of new welfare initiatives. Integrating E-Courts with land records and registration databases will further promote transparency and curtail unethical and illegal activities associated with land transactions.
The President also highlighted that making land-related information readily accessible will have numerous benefits, including the resolution of disputes concerning land ownership and usage. Currently, a substantial part of the country's population is embroiled in land-related disputes, which consumes valuable time and resources of both the administration and the judiciary. Through digitization and the linking of information, these efforts can be redirected toward development initiatives.
Addressing the gathering, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Steel & Rural Development, underscored the government's commitment to ensuring that the benefits of schemes reach the citizens at the grassroots level, as envisioned by the Prime Minister. He praised the Bhoomi Samman event for encouraging States and Districts to achieve 100% saturation of the DILRMP scheme components. Moreover, the digitization of land records and registrations will contribute to reducing the backlog of court cases involving land disputes, preventing adverse impacts on the country's economy caused by stalled projects.
Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, emphasized the crucial role of technology and education in empowering citizens and enhancing their quality of life. The Bhoomi Samman Scheme, aimed at achieving the saturation of the Digitization of Land Records, was conceived by Giriraj Singh, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. After a meticulous selection process, 68 districts across the country were chosen for recognition under the scheme.
As a part of the ceremony, a book titled "Bhoomi Samman- Best practices in Land Governance by States and Districts in India" was unveiled and presented to the President. Additionally, a film showcasing the Platinum Certificate Ranking Scheme / DILRMP was presented, further highlighting the commendable efforts undertaken in modernizing land records.
