Project Description
The Department of Revenue in Karnataka has computerized 20 million records of land ownership of 6.7 million farmers in the state. Today, a printed copy of the Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) -- a document needed for tasks such as obtaining bank loans -- can be obtained online at computerized land record kiosks (Bhoomi centers).

Project Objectives
The manual land record system that were maintained by 9,000 Village Accountants created delays, harassment and bribes. Several inaccuracies occured due to improper manipulation by the Village Accountants.

Intended Beneficiaries
Land owners in Karnataka.

Partners Involved
Department of Revenue in Karnataka.

Impact: Benefits and Constraints
Farmers can now get an RTC for any parcel of land and Khata extract (statement of total land holdings of an individual) in 5-30 minutes from an RTC information kiosk. Any record can be viewed through a touch screen at the kiosk.

The poor appears to be struggling most with the new system in regions like Bijapur in Karnataka, which has the highest demand for RTCs. They have to spend money on bus fare to reach the town from their villages. The queue can be so long that they have to wait up to 2 days.

The project also fails to address gender inequality as women in Karnataka owns just 12% of the land and this is reflected in Bhoomi. Women in Dharwad district do not know of the new system.

Former Village Accountants, where their powers have been existence for the last 150 years, are still being used for verifying mutations and other tasks.

Project or Related URLs:

http://www.infochangeindia.org/features120.jsp

http://www.zdnetindia.com/news/features/stories/28715.html

http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/bhoomi_cs.htm