As Punjab launches Easy Jamabandi, why it matters to public, and how it may help govt save resources

Indian Express

13 hours ago

Punjab has become the first state to launch Easy Jamabandi, an online system to provide easy access to land records and related services for citizens.
The Punjab Land Records Society (PLRS) has digitised and streamlined processes related to the revenue department.
The services, related to revenue record, maintained by the revenue department would be available after applying on the state government's portal, through sewa Kendra and doorstep delivery sahayaks by calling on 1076 helpline.
What all services are available
As 99.9 per cent land records in about 12,500 villages are digitised, the landowners will be able to view the ownership records on the portal and jamabandi will be made available on WhatsApp to the applicant, a request for mutation could be made online, a request for Rapat entry (court cases related to land, and also for getting bank loans for buying property), application for 'fard badar' (land record corrections or changes) and application for subscription of revenue record of a specified khasra number could be made online.
These services will be available online on http://www.easyjamabandi.gov.in, and could be accessed at the sewa kendras across the state and provided at home by calling on 1076 helpline under Doorstep Delivery of Services scheme of the government.
Subscription of revenue record
According to Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Rehabilitation, Anurag Verma the government has started a novel service for NRIs and defence personnel who often report fraudulent changes in revenue records in their absence.
'By paying Rs 500 to the PLRS annually, and using Subscribe To Your Land Records feature, the NRI brethren and the defence personnel would be able to keep a track on the changes made to the revenue records of the Khewat numbers of their properties. If any changes are made in the records, a message would be sent to them on their phone numbers. The subscriber will also have an option to raise an objection to the proposed change. His objection would automatically land in the inbox of concerned revenue officer.'
He said this is being done as many as time legitimate/illegitimate changes are made in the revenue record without the knowledge of existing landowners.
How will the digitisation help
About 40 lakh people visit the Fard Kendras for getting certified copies of Fards (copy of Jamabandi).
Even if half the people start using digitally signed and QR coded Fard module, about 20 lakh man days will be saved.
An amount of Rs 45 crore is paid annually to the vendors for issuance of Fards. Half of this amount will be saved, even if half the people start using this module, said Verma.
He added that the volume of issuance of these documents was huge. For instance, 8 lakh mutations (transfer of land through sale and inheritance), 2 lakh entries of Rapat (court order, loan) and 60,000 Fard Badar (correction of clerical error) issued by the department annually.
How does the new system compare with the current system
Currently, an applicant has to submit an application to a Patwari manually.
'As we all know that the department is riddled with corruption, it takes long for the landowners to get their works done. It is a Herculean task to find a Patwari. Now, that dependence will be over. This online system will help nail the corruption. For raising the objections, we have laid down the rules that the objections could be raised by the revenue officials only once. Now, for getting the mutation of land done, the revenue officers have been given a deadline of 30 days. We will keep on reviewing the performance. A Patwari will be given 15 days on an application, lanugo will get 5 days and Tehsildar will be given 10 days to clear the application for mutation. Now, the control is in the hands of citizens. Now, our responsibility is to ensure this revenue record in 30 days unlike the earlier deadline of 45 days.'
Complaints against corruption
Currently, the applicant has to meet the DC or SDM for reporting corruption. With the new system, as soon as the applicant submits the application, the department proactively sends the What's App message to the applicant.
The message asks the applicant to click a link on the portal if anyone has asked for bribe or money for sanctioning of mutation.
If the applicant clicks on the link and lodges a complaint, the message is sent to the Deputy Commissioner of the district.
Checking status of application
The citizen is proactively informed when his application is submitted, when Patwari sends the case to Kanugo, when Kanugo sends the case to Tehsildar and when Tehsildar finally decides the case.