Innovation with IT

Digitising land records system

HimBhoomi is a workflow application that computerises a 600-year-old revenue system developed by Emperor Akbar. Implemented by the Director of Land Records, Shimla, it consists of many complex linkages spanning across various documents and computerises not only the land records, rural and urban area records, but also includes land reforms, irrigation census details, agriculture census statistics besides customary and forestry rights as an MIS. This type of project has not been attempted elsewhere in India so far. This system creates a transparent, effective and efficient land record delivery system. It ensures the standardisation in the maintenance of records and uniform implementation of various acts. It leverages the natural advantages of digitised data. This platform can be used as the backbone to deliver additional value to the citizen. The project reached the final of Stockholm Challenge 2006.

Computerisation of numerous land records and the genealogical table was a unique and difficult task. Himachal Pradesh being a hilly terrain, land records assume a very prominent place as the people are very poor and undertake subsistence farming. The land record is used by farmers for a variety of purpose like taking loans, certificates, sale/purchase, etc. This complex system for more than 20,600 villages is maintained and managed by around 5,000 officials.

Process
A simple client-server architecture was used to computerise this 600-year old system. The introduction of ICT has resulted in a standardised pattern of record writing, which previously was being changed by revenue officials to suit their requirements. The computerisation of the genealogical table is unique and has not been attempted elsewhere in India.
The complicated process of mutation has also been computerised. The computerisation has been adopted overwhemingly both by the departments and the public.
The present manual system has been replicated as such leading to faster applicability and replication.

Impact
The solution provided has standardised the land records, documents and procedures, and facilitates implementation of various acts and policies. This has led to the timely availability of legible Record of Rights to the people. These were earlier available only through the village accountant (patwari) and the process consumed a lot of time and money. It has also given the patwari more time to serve the public, reduced the time required to prepare records from 3-4 months to 7-10 days and revenue generation is enough to meet recurring expenses.