Patwaris were more powerful than collectors in 2020: Lt Governor

Lucknow, Mar 20: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that when he took charge in 2020, patwaris (local revenue officials) wielded more power than collectors.
Speaking at the birth centenary celebrations of renowned writer Shrilal Shukla in Lucknow, LG Sinha, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), spoke about the sweeping reforms undertaken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to digitize land records and empower farmers. “When I took over the reins of Jammu and Kashmir, patwaris were more powerful than the collector. All the land records were in Urdu, and even the collector was unable to understand what was written,” LG Sinha said.
“Earlier, patwaris were calling the shots, and locals were suffering. Now, people have direct access to their land records, and governance has become more transparent,” he said.
He said that prior to digitization landowners faced significant hurdles, including requiring permission from the revenue minister to plant or cut an orchard. “To address these challenges, the administration launched a large-scale land digitization drive, ensuring transparency and ease of access to land records,” LG Sinha said, adding, “Many outdated and regressive land laws were abolished to benefit farmers, removing obstacles that had long hindered agricultural activities.”
LG Sinha also emphasized initiatives aimed at benefiting refugees who had come from Pakistan. “Under a new scheme, such displaced individuals were granted land and ownership rights, a move aimed at providing them with long-term security and stability,” he said.
Referring to the ‘Meri Zameen, Meri Nigrani’ programme, under which land passbooks were distributed to landowners, LG Sinha said, “The initiative ensured clarity in land titles and prevented fraudulent transactions.”
Highlighting the success of these digital initiatives, the Lieutenant Governor said that Jammu and Kashmir has now surpassed Madhya Pradesh in providing online services, emerging as a leader in land record digitization