The Gujarat government has announced that rural ownership certificates (Sanads) under the SVAMITVA Yojana will now be issued completely free of cost. The decision, taken by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, removes the previously mandatory ₹200 fee, benefiting nearly 25 lakh rural residents across the state.
The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Yojana, implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, aims to formalize property ownership in villages by using drone technology to map inhabited land and issue official property cards. This initiative helps reduce land disputes and provides legal recognition of property rights in rural areas.
By waiving the ₹200 survey fee under the Land Revenue Act, 1879, Gujarat becomes one of the first states to offer both the property card and Sanad entirely free of charge. The state has allocated around ₹50 crore to support this initiative, ensuring wider access to legal land documentation.
These Sanads will serve as formal proof of ownership, enabling rural property holders to access bank loans, claim inheritance rights, and make secure investments.
As of mid-2025, around 42.2 million people—57.4% of Gujarat’s population—live in rural areas. Despite growing urbanisation, a majority of Gujaratis continue to reside in villages, where issues like lower literacy rates, especially among women, and limited access to official property documents remain challenges.
This move not only supports rural empowerment but also strengthens Gujarat’s broader efforts in infrastructure development, financial inclusion, and land rights reform in village communities.