The Punjab Cabinet led by former Chief Minister captain Amarinder Singh introduced the Punjab Abadi Deh (Record of Right) Bill, 2021 in the budget of Vidhan Sabha. Mission “Lal Lakir” comes under this bill and this mission is an extension of Survey of Village Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Area (SVAMITVA) Scheme.
What is “Lal Lakir”?
“Lal Lakir” refers to land that is part of the village ‘abaadi’ (habitation) and is used for non agriculture purposes only.
The villagers of Punjab will not only get the right value for their lands and properties outside Lal Lakir, but it will also become easier to take loans from banks. The Punjab cabinet on approved the implementation of Mission Lal Lakir in all villages across the state. Under this, villagers will be able to get the right to monetize their properties outside Lal Lakir and various benefits available through government departments, institutions and banks.
As there was no record available so far of properties outside Lal Lakir in the State, these could not be monetized as per their original value. They could not even be mortgaged. As per the decision of the cabinet, now the records of properties outside Lal Lakir in the villages of the state will be prepared in collaboration with the Government of India on the basis of ownership under Mission Lal Lakir.
With this, mapping of lands, houses, places of residence and all other areas around Lal Lakir will be done. The ownership scheme currently being run by the Rural Development and Panchayat Department in the state will be transferred to the Revenue and Rehabilitation Department on the orders of the Chief Minister.
How will Lal Lakir Mission work?
The farmer coming under this Act will give an application to the allotment commissioner, after that the commissioner will ask for a detailed report of that land from the patwari of that area and after being satisfied will issue the allotment letter in the name of that farmer. This letter will be issued after payment of 25% of the total allotment price and the remaining 75% amount can be deposited in lump sum or in 6 equal installments. Allotment papers will not be issued if 25% amount is not deposited on time at the time of application. According to the allotment letter, in the event of delay or default in the payment of installments, the facility of payment along with 6% interest will be given within three months of the last payment. After the deposit of the entire amount, the land will be given to the farmer.
OBJECTIVE OF THIS MISSION:
The objective of this mission is to make the ownership of the land outside Lal Lakir available to the farmers so that they can take advantage of it when needed and get the value of the properties according to the market. The life of all the farmers associated with this scheme will improve due to this scheme and the government will get revenue from its allotment.
The people residing in 12600 villages of the state of Punjab had been demanding from the government for a long time that they should be given property rights papers of their houses and farms, because even in the event of their right over the land, they would never claim it. Could not take loan nor could mortgage it. Papers are always needed to prove the ownership for giving bank loans, which these people did not have. To give them ownership rights on the land, the government came up with the scheme.
BENEFITS OF THE MISSION:
The government believes that the standard of living of the villagers will improve due to the implementation of Mission Lal Lakir. Rights related matters arising in respect of these properties can now be settled through litigation. Shamlat lands inside Lal Lakir such as ponds, meeting places and such streets, which are being occupied due to non-availability of records, will now be secured under the mission.
Recently, an important Cabinet meeting was held under the chairmanship of chief minister of Punjab Charanjit Singh Channi. In this meeting, the important decision was taken that the residents living within the Lal Lakir will also be granted the rights on such property. It is an extension to an policy rolled out by former CM Capt Amarinder Singh.
The chief minister said “People who are living within the ‘Lal Lakir’ in villages and cities do not have ownership rights. We have decided to confer the ownership rights on the people who have been living in these areas,”
The scheme is renamed as “MERA GHAR MERE NAAM”
The Revenue department has been commanded to drone check of similar residential property both in pastoral and civic areas for digital mapping. Latterly, all the eligible residers will be given the property cards to confer personal rights upon them.
The heirs would be given a time of 15 days to file their expostulations in this regard and in case no reply is entered from them, the property card would be issued which would serve the purpose of registry against which they can get loans from the banks or indeed vend their places therefore enhancing its financial value.
So far, survey has been completed in 350 villages and maps of 20 villages have been verified and sent back to the Survey of India, the National Mapping Agency (NMA)