As the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday launched Easy Jamabandi Portal, the state scripted a new success story in providing citizen centric services to people in a corruption free, smooth, hassle free and transparent manner.
Both the leaders said that Punjab is taking yet another historic step to root out corruption from key revenue services that lakhs of people are dependent on every year. They said that a few days ago, Punjab launched the ‘Easy Registry’ initiative, aimed at making property registration simpler and more transparent and to eliminate corruption. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that they have launched this initiative in Mohali and it’s a big hit with the people adding that not even a single corruption complaint has been registered in the last month from one entire district which reflects its resounding success.
Both the leaders said that will be extending this to the whole of Punjab by July 15th adding that as Aam Aadmi Party had promised a corruption-free governance to the people of Punjab, and today’s revolutionary initiative reflects the honesty, transparency, and pro-people mindset of our government. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that the portal will enable people to available five main services WhatsApp te Jamabandi (Getting Jamabandi via WhatsApp), Online Intkal (mutation) seva, Rapat Entry, Fard Badar (Correction of Land Records) and Fard Badar (Correction of Land Records). Elaborating it, they said that WhatsApp te Jamabandi (Getting Jamabandi via WhatsApp) will facilitate the people in a big way as 40 lakh people annually either had to visit their Patwari or visit Fard Centers to obtain land record copies (Jamabandi).
However, both the leaders said that now, there is no need to visit a Patwari, stand in queues, or pay bribes for land records as people have to simply go to the Easy Jamabandi website, enter their details and they will get a copy of your Jamabandi for free. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that this will be digitally signed and will have a QR code adding that anyone can scan the QR cord to verify the land record. They said that the state government has digitized land records for 99% of villages in Punjab, all those land records can be availed through this service adding that the remaining villages too will be digitized in the next two months.
Divulging details about Online Intkal (mutation) seva both the leaders said that every year, eight lakh mutations are processed (6 lakh via deed registrations and 2 lakh through inheritance). Previously, Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that getting the ownership updated after buying land or inheriting property involved months of running around and hurdles adding that now, Patwaris cannot create obstacles, and there is no need to pay bribes. They said that if anyone is registering their deed, the mutation will happen automatically within 30 days and in case of inheritance, they can submit request for mutation online on Easy Jamabandi website and the same shall be done within a strict 30-day time limit after which they will get Whatsapp update at every stage of the process.
Speaking about Rapat Entry, Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that every year, about 2 lakh Rapat entries (due to court orders or loans) are made adding that now, there’s no need for physical paperwork or office visits. They said that every case of individual will move digitally from the Patwari with no manual discretion or red-tapeism. Both the leaders said that their Rapat entry will be made within one day for court orders and within seven days for loans.
Giving details about Fard Badar (Correction of Land Records), Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that every year, about 60,000 Fard Badar (record correction) requests are made. They said that to correct errors in land records (say name spelling), people will no longer need to make rounds of government offices or rely on the goodwill of Tehsildars. Both the leaders said that now, a simple form with the required documents can be submitted online and the application will be processed within 15 days time limit adding that nominal application fee for these services will also be paid online.
Speaking about Jamabandi layi Subscribe karo (Subscribe to Your Land Records), Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that in a historic move to protect land ownership, especially for NRIs, the Punjab Government has introduced the “Subscribe to Your Land Records” feature. Previously, they said that many land records were altered without the owner’s knowledge, and often they would find out years later, after which they had to endure long delayed legal struggle in courts to get them corrected. Both the leaders said landowners can now visit the government’s website and subscribe to their land records by paying an annual fee of ₹500 per Khewat (landholding record).
Both the leaders said that this gives them the right to digitally safeguard their land from anywhere in the world. For instance, they said that if there is any attempt to tamper with the subscribed record, the landowner will receive an instant alert via WhatsApp or email after which they can immediately raise an objection online, which will be sent directly to the concerned revenue officer. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that this step ensures land security for NRIs across the globe.
Both the leaders said that for services like Jamabandi (land record copy), Intkal (mutation), and Fard Badar (record correction), every individual previously had to approach Patwaris or Tehsildars. Unfortunately, they said that these offices had become synonymous with corruption but now they won’t have to visit offices of patwards or tehsildars repeatedly. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal said that now all can be done from the comfort of your home with just a click through the website easyjamabandi.punjab.gov.in adding it can also be availed by dialling 1076, or by submitting applications at any Sewa kendra.
