This ambitious project aims to digitise and map land records, addressing long-standing issues of land disputes and enhancing transparency in land dealings
Bihar is undergoing a significant transition with the commencement of a Special Land Survey covering 45,000 villages across the state. To expedite this process, the government has deployed 10,000 officials, aiming to complete the survey by August 2025.
The Department of Revenue and Land Reforms has already digitized 64 million revenue documents. The digitisation of an additional 160 to 200 million documents is expected to be completed within the next year. These documents will be available to the public for a nominal fee.
The primary goal of the survey is to digitize and map the state's land data to enhance transparency in land dealings and address the persistent land disputes that overwhelm Bihar's courts. “Our main focus is to prepare accurate land records, including Kistwar (Plotting) and Khanapuri, to ensure legitimate land ownership,” states Vinod Kumar Singh, Additional District Magistrate of Vaishali district.
Singh emphasizes the importance of this initiative, noting that 60% of land-related crimes in Bihar arise from missing or inaccessible Record of Rights (RoR) documents. Fraudulent claims on land titles have also contributed to the problem.
Regarding the Vanshavali (Pedigree) Form, Singh clarifies that approval is not required from the Sarpanch (Panchayat Head). Individuals can certify and submit the form themselves along with Self-Declaration Form-2 (Prapatra 2). This form is particularly crucial for ancestral properties, regardless of the type of ownership, such as Khatiyan or Property Sale Deed.
Vipin Kumar Yadav, Settlement Officer (Bandobust Adhikari) of Vaishali, adds that if land is in the father's name and agricultural rent is being paid, a Vanshavali form is not necessary. However, if the father wishes to distribute the property among his children, the form must be completed along with Self-Declaration Form-2.
Khatiyan is a legal document that records rights related to Khata (Account) number, Kheasara (Plot) number, Mouza (area), tenant's name, and land area. It specifically pertains to ancestral immovable property.
The digitization and mapping efforts through the Special Land Survey are commendable. By reducing land disputes, these measures will enable farmers to focus on enhancing agricultural productivity instead of engaging in protracted legal battles. Given that agriculture contributes 18% to India's GDP, improving land record management is crucial for the sector's growth.
In conclusion, Bihar's Special Land Survey represents a crucial step towards modernizing land management and resolving persistent land disputes.
By digitizing and mapping extensive land records, the initiative aims to enhance transparency, reduce legal conflicts, and empower farmers to focus on agricultural productivity.
With the goal of completing the survey by August 2025, this project underscores the state's commitment to improving land administration and supporting the agricultural sector, which is vital for Bihar’s economy. As digitization progresses, stakeholders can look forward to a more efficient and equitable land management system.
(The author is a columnist, views are personal)
