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Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
As Punjab launches Easy Jamabandi, why it matters to public, and how it may help govt save resources
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 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.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Easy Jamabandi portal will put an end to corruption: Punjab ACS
Additional chief secretary Anurag Verma, who is incharge of the Punjab revenue department, said on Friday that the Easy Jamabandi portal has been launched to weed out corruption. The portal, which provides five key services: Jamabandi via WhatsApp, online intkal (mutation), rapat entry, fard badar (correction of land records) and subscription for land record protection, was launched by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday. At a press conference, Verma said for the past many years, patwaris had been ruling the roost and seeking bribes to provide revenue documents to property owners. 'But now, with the system online, patwaris are left with no option but to issue these documents in a time-bound manner. We have brought a system of lodging complaints against corrupt practices. Immediately after a complaint is lodged on the portal, the deputy commissioner gets a notice and he is duty-bound to dispose of it.' Revenue minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said the AAP is acting tough against corrupt practices and would not allow people to be looted by corrupt staff. On the occasion, beneficiaries who procured documents through the online portal, also shared their experience and said the process has been simplified.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Easy Jamabandi' to tackle land record typos, offer real-time tampering alerts in Punjab
Chandigarh: The Punjab govt's 'Easy Jamabandi' initiative now allows landowners to initiate 'fard badar' (corrections for clerical errors) on the portal and also file online complaints regarding 'harassment or corruption' by patwaris or tehsildars. The new system further provides subscribers, particularly NRIs or those who have moved to cities, with real-time updates on their revenue records, ensuring they are promptly alerted to any unauthorised changes. Elaborating on the new system, Anurag Verma, additional chief secretary, revenue, said on Friday, "Fard badar has long been a major source of corruption. If a landowner's name is misspelled in land records, it requires a fard badar to correct it. A small typographical error by a patwari can cause significant issues, especially when the landowner tries to sell their property. They often have to trace old jamabandis to verify their correct name. Over 60,000 applications for fard badar are received each year. Now, the system has been fully reformed and digitised." Meanwhile, the state govt is in the process of replacing Urdu land record terms like 'fard badar' with Punjabi names. The primary purpose of 'fard badar' is to rectify minor, clerical, or accidental errors that may have occurred during the recording of land information by revenue officials such as patwaris. Speaking about the new option to subscribe to land records, Verma said, "Illegitimate changes are often made in revenue records without the landowner's knowledge, leading to prolonged litigation to correct the records. To address this, a 'Subscribe to Land Records' feature has been introduced for an annual fee of Rs 500 per khewat (the account number identifying landowners). Subscribers will receive alerts via WhatsApp or email whenever a change is proposed in their Khewat, allowing them to raise objections in time. This will help prevent fraud and significantly reduce litigation." Revenue minister Hardeep Singh Mundian added that tehsildars have recently been transferred across the state as part of the ongoing effort to check corruption. The online system was another step in the direction, he said. Asked about the necessity for NRIs to appear before revenue officers despite the online application, Verma said the option of video conferencing to exempt physical presence will be explored. To another question, he said that revenue officers still have a role in the digital system, but the chances of corruption had been removed. The 'Easy Jamabandi' portal was launched by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal in Amritsar on Thursday with features such as getting Jamabandi via WhatsApp, online mutation and correction of land records. The revenue processes have been made time bound and as of Friday, there were 1,800 cases of intkal (change in ownership and title of the land) were pending. Varma said the complaint against patwari, or tehsildar can be made in reply to a WhatsApp message without physically going to the deputy commissioner. "Most applicants are reluctant to make complaints in person. Now they can do so by clicking on a link they would receive on WhatsApp," he said. BOX: REVENUE SERVICES AVAILED ANNUALLY Mutation: 8 lakh (6 lakh on basis of registration deeds and 2 lakh of inheritance). Entry of rapat (court, order, loan): 2 lakh Fard Badar (correction in clerical effort): 60 thousand BOX: LAND RECORDS OF 150 VILLAGES YET TO BE DIGITISED Verma confirmed that land record of 150 villages, mostly located in the bigger cities, were yet to be digitised and the exercise would be completed in next 2-3 months. "The applications can still filed online but jamabandis cannot be sent on WhatsApp in such cases," he said. BOX: WHEN MOHAN SINGH BECAME SOHAN SINGH Citing an example from his village, revenue minister Gurdeep Singh Mundian said his friend Mohan Singh's name in the land records was changed to Sohan Singh by the patwari without his knowledge. "A fake Aadhar card was used to get the land registered in the name of one Sohan Singh and revenue records of the past 15 years were also changed. The police later unearthed a scam worth Rs 1.50 crore. The digital system will rule out delays and corruption in collusion with the patwaris and kanugoes,' he said. MSID:: 121831753 413 | Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MP surpasses wheat procurement target, recovers from last year's 33% drop
Bhopal: After a sharp 33% drop in wheat procurement last year, the state has not only bounced back but has also surpassed its revised procurement target, recording a significant recovery in state-level grain collection. As of May 5, the state has procured 76.10 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat, well above last year's total of 48 LMT and the original target of 60 LMT set by the Union target was later revised to 70 LMT, which too has been exceeded. Whether the procurement deadline will be extended beyond May 5 remains due to sudden pre-monsoon rains in the state, the officials of the food and civil supplies department have issued instructions to ensure that the wheat remains safe and are constantly monitoring the wheat stock at the procurement centres."So far, no major loss has been reported as the maximum number of procurement centres are at the warehouses themselves. We are constantly monitoring the situation," Managing Director, Food and Civil Supplies, Anurag Verma told far this year, 76.10 lakh metric tonnes of wheat were procured at the procurement centres across the state. Last year, a total of only 48 LMT of wheat was procured in the state. In 2022, only 4.6 LMT of wheat was procured in the year, wheat is being procured at Rs 2,600 per quintal of MSP, which includes a Rs 175 per quintal bonus from the state govt. This is one of the highest rates at which wheat is being procured across the state was initially given a target of 60 LMT for the procurement of wheat, but when it was achieved, it was revised to 70 LMT. Now the state has surpassed the revised target also, said sources said if past figures are considered, it was in 2020 and 2021 when a maximum of 12.9 LMT and 12.8 LMT of wheat was procured in the state, respectively. It fell to only 4.6 LMT in 2022, but again in 2023, it increased to 7.1 in 2024, it fell by more than 33% to only 4.8 LMT. This year, 7.6 LMT of wheat was procured, which is even higher than in 2023.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Harvest high point: MP sets new benchmark in wheat procurement
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh has clocked a record-breaking wheat procurement this season, after witnessing a record dip of 33% last year compared to the previous year. The state collected over 62.5 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) so far, well ahead of last year's total of 48 LMT. With procurement underway until May 5, officials expect to easily cross the revised target of 70 LMT as the procurement is still ongoing. Last year, a total of only 48 LMT of wheat was procured in the state, which was 33% less than the 7.1 LMT of wheat procured in 2023. In 2022, only 4.6 LMT of wheat was procured in the state. This year, wheat is being procured at Rs 2,600 per quintal of MSP, which includes a Rs 175 per quintal bonus from the state govt. This is one of the highest rates at which wheat is being procured across the country. "We were initially given a target of 60 LMT for the procurement of wheat, but when we achieved it, it was revised to 70 LMT. As procurement is ongoing, we are hopeful of achieving the target easily. Compared to the previous year, it has already surpassed it, as only 48 LMT of wheat was procured last year," Managing Director of Food and Civil Supplies Corporation, Anurag Verma, told TOI. Sources said if past figures were considered, it was in 2020 and 2021 when a maximum of 12.9 LMT and 12.8 LMT of wheat was procured in the state, respectively. It fell to only 4.6 LMT in 2022, but again in 2023, it increased to 7.1 LMT. However, in 2024, it fell by more than 33% to only 4.8 LMT. This year, it is estimated that the procurement will be around 7 LMT, which will be equivalent to the procurement done in 2023. Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh has clocked a record-breaking wheat procurement this season, after witnessing a record dip of 33% last year compared to the previous year. The state collected over 62.5 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) so far, well ahead of last year's total of 48 LMT. With procurement underway until May 5, officials expect to easily cross the revised target of 70 LMT as the procurement is still ongoing. Last year, a total of only 48 LMT of wheat was procured in the state, which was 33% less than the 7.1 LMT of wheat procured in 2023. In 2022, only 4.6 LMT of wheat was procured in the state. This year, wheat is being procured at Rs 2,600 per quintal of MSP, which includes a Rs 175 per quintal bonus from the state govt. This is one of the highest rates at which wheat is being procured across the country. "We were initially given a target of 60 LMT for the procurement of wheat, but when we achieved it, it was revised to 70 LMT. As procurement is ongoing, we are hopeful of achieving the target easily. Compared to the previous year, it has already surpassed it, as only 48 LMT of wheat was procured last year," Managing Director of Food and Civil Supplies Corporation, Anurag Verma, told TOI. Sources said if past figures were considered, it was in 2020 and 2021 when a maximum of 12.9 LMT and 12.8 LMT of wheat was procured in the state, respectively. It fell to only 4.6 LMT in 2022, but again in 2023, it increased to 7.1 LMT. However, in 2024, it fell by more than 33% to only 4.8 LMT. This year, it is estimated that the procurement will be around 7 LMT, which will be equivalent to the procurement done in 2023.
