Giving 2.20 lakh digital title deeds in unrecognised habitations in two years is a record for Karnataka, says Revenue Minister

As the government is gearing up to provide digital title deeds for properties of over 1.1 lakh families in unrecognised habitations in Karnataka, on February 14 in Haveri, it is set to create a record of sorts.

To mark 1000 days

“We have already provided digital title deeds to over 1.1 lakh families in unrecognised habitations of the State last year and are set to provide certificates to another 1.1 lakh families now to mark completion of 1,000 days of our governance. Providing title deeds to 2.2 lakh families in unrecognised habitations in two years is a record. Also this is one of the largest numbers in the country,” Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told The Hindu.

An estimated 10 to 12 lakh people are expected to benefit in the last two years owing to these measures.

Possession certificates had been given to 1.08 lakh such families by the erstwhile BJP government. However, they were not the digital ones.

Cannot be tampered with

“These digital title deeds cannot be tampered with or lost. Under this drive, the government officials themselves have gone to the doorsteps of beneficiaries to identify them without asking them to apply for title deeds,” he said.

“We are registering these title deeds with sub-registrars through absolute deeds. The beneficiaries will have to pay only the scanning charges. In addition to this, the beneficiaries will also get e-swathu – creation of a title in the panchayat records in their name. This is the absolute completion of their ownership process,” the Minister maintained.

Not recognised

“These are habitations that existed for 30 to 100 years, but never had recognition of a village. They do not exist on any government record. Since they are not part of official records, it was not possible as per norms to provide them any public infrastructure like hospitals and schools or civic amenities. However, on humanitarian grounds, such facilities were being given in the last decade by violating the norms,” the Minister explained.

The State had 6,500 unrecognised habitations when the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, was amended to declare them as revenue villages in 2016. Of them, 1,557 were declared as revenue villages till May, 2023. In the last two-and-a-half years, another 3,000 habitations have been given recognition. Similar measures are in the pipeline for another 1,300 habitations, the Minister noted.