The Karnataka government has significantly accelerated its digital land records initiative with the upcoming launch of an upgraded e-Swathu platform, aiming to bring transparency and efficiency to property documentation in rural areas across the state.
Massive Digital Transformation for Rural Properties
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to officially launch the enhanced e-Swathu 2.0 platform on Monday, representing a major upgrade to the Panchatantra software that powers this ambitious digital initiative. The program targets the regularization of more than 97 lakh properties located within gram panchayat jurisdictions throughout Karnataka.
The e-Swathu platform represents a comprehensive digital solution that integrates property details with digitized records, creating a streamlined documentation system that ensures transparency while simplifying the often complex process of ownership verification for rural property owners.
Phased Implementation Strategy
In the initial implementation phase, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department is concentrating on over 6.5 lakh properties situated within gram panchayat areas surrounding Bengaluru. These properties will be the first to receive their digital property documents, known as e-khatas, and will be incorporated into the rural tax network.
The strategic focus on Bengaluru's surrounding areas allows the government to test the system's efficiency and address any technical challenges before expanding the initiative to the remaining properties across the state.
Dedicated Support System Established
Recognizing the potential challenges citizens might face during the transition to digital property documentation, the RDPR department has established an exclusive call centre in Yeshwantpur, operated by a private firm. This support system is designed specifically to handle citizen queries and address technical issues that may arise during the e-khata generation process.
To ensure the call centre operators can provide accurate and comprehensive assistance, the department has deployed 34 panchayat development officers (PDOs) from six key districts: Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru South, Tumakuru, Kolar, and Chikkaballapur. These officers will support the call centre during its initial operational phase.
According to Arundhati Chandrashekhar, Commissioner of Karnataka Panchayat Raj, "PDOs must assist call centre staff in handling calls related to the software and rules governing e-Swathu."
The PDOs will work in rotation from December 2 to January 4, after which the call centre team is expected to operate independently. All calls will be recorded to monitor assistance quality and maintain accountability standards.
Enhanced Accountability Measures
The department has implemented robust accountability mechanisms within the new support system. Citizens experiencing issues with the e-Swathu portal or encountering problems with officials can report complaints through the dedicated channels, including allegations of bribery demands for issuing e-khatas.
The department has explicitly stated that appropriate action will be taken against any officials found engaging in corrupt practices, provided such complaints are supported by call recordings or other credible evidence. This transparency measure aims to build public trust in the digital transformation initiative.
This comprehensive approach to digitizing rural property records represents a significant step forward in Karnataka's ongoing efforts to modernize land administration and bring greater efficiency to property-related governance in rural areas.
