Chhattisgarh Towards Digital Revolution: A New Era of Good Governance and Transparent Revenue Services with the 'Vasundhara' Project
Chhattisgarh government is leading a historic digital revolution with the 'resolve for service' to provide smooth, quick, and transparent revenue services to the citizens of the state. Through the 'Vasundhara' (Verified Accessible System for Unified Digital Land Records & Historical Archives) project, initiated by the Department of Revenue, Disaster Management, and Rehabilitation, comprehensive digitization, preservation, and authentication of old and current revenue records across the state are being done, which will free the general public from the hassle of visiting government offices forever.
Basis of Success: Dantaewada's Revolutionary Model
The strong foundation of this ambitious scheme's success is based on the revolutionary model of Dantaewada district. In Dantaewada, over the last year, more than 12,000 citizens have benefited from kiosk services, and over 15,000 caste certificates have been issued in just one to two days. Along with this, quick resolution of hundreds of disputed cases has become possible, and not a single case of tampering with records has come to light.
Detailed Blueprint: Digitization of 12.89 Crore Pages
Inspired by this successful experiment in Dantaewada, a detailed blueprint has now been prepared to digitize approximately 12 crore 89 lakh pages of various revenue records across the entire state. This includes 5.68 crore pages of Khasra Panchsala at a cost of Rs 22.72 crore, 2.94 crore pages of B-1 record at a cost of Rs 11.77 crore, 2.49 crore pages of mutation and amendment register at a cost of Rs 9.98 crore, 53.16 lakh pages of Misal register at a cost of Rs 2.13 crore, and 47.29 lakh pages of rights record at a cost of Rs 1.89 crore. Additionally, important documents like Nistar Patrak, Wajib-ul-Arz, Renumbering List, Sadharan Khasra, Nazul Sheet, and Vyavartan Panji will also be digitally secured.
Financial Framework and Timely Implementation
For the smooth implementation of this massive project, a total one-time capital expenditure (CAPEX) of Rs 65.41 crore and an operational expenditure (OPEX) of Rs 50 lakh per year have been set, the financial arrangement for which will be made from the state's infrastructure fund and the central government's DILRMP 3.0 scheme. Under the scheme, with the support of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the Vasundhara portal and mobile app will be ready within the next three months, after which work agencies will be selected, and the digitization and verification of all records will be completed within one year.
Technical Innovation: Security with AI and Blockchain
The biggest specialty of the 'Vasundhara' project is the inclusion of the latest technologies. With the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based OCR, Document Classification, and Smart Search Engine, even decades-old records can be searched in the blink of an eye. To prevent any kind of fraud or manipulation in the records, blockchain-based security, digital signatures, and a unique QR and barcode system will be implemented.
Quick Services and a New Era of Good Governance
After the full implementation of this scheme, the current time taken for obtaining a copy, which is 3 to 7 days, will be reduced to just a few minutes, and this service will be available to citizens 24 hours a day. Citizens will now be able to easily obtain certified records from home through the web portal, mobile app, public service centers, and kiosks. Features like a smooth online payment gateway and real-time monitoring for officials will provide relief to the general public. This innovation by the Chhattisgarh government will not only completely curb land disputes and fraud but will also usher in a new era of digital governance, transparency, and good governance in the state.