Svamitva Property Rights Drive

The Andhra Pradesh government has stepped up implementation of the Svamitva programme, aimed at granting legal ownership rights to rural households and landholders. The initiative seeks to issue property ownership cards for nearly 45 lakh houses and plots across about 6,000 villages by March 2026.

Survey in Final Stages

As part of the exercise, a large-scale drone survey is under way to capture accurate measurements and boundaries of every property. Using ortho-rectified images, officials are mapping houses, shops, and vacant plots located within village limits - areas that have long lacked formal ownership records.

According to officials, field verification of around 43 lakh properties has already been completed, and the remaining checks are expected to finish within a few days. Once verified, the government will issue notices under Section 9(2) inviting objections from residents. After resolving these objections and confirming boundaries, the final ownership cards will be distributed under Section 13 of the scheme.

Legal Ownership and Benefits

Under the Records of Rights (RoR) framework, the property cards will formally recognize each owner's title. The cards will enable rural citizens to:

• Sell or purchase their properties legally through sub-registrar offices

• Access bank loans by using the card as proof of ownership

• Transfer property to legal heirs without disputes

• Regularize long-pending holdings within village habitation areas

The scheme is expected to boost rural economic activity, providing a secure foundation for credit access and small-scale investments.

Next Phase After March 2026

Following completion of the current phase, the government plans to expand the survey and ownership process to another 6,000 villages. Officials say the revised revenue legislation will ensure that every rural property owner can freely transact and register their holdings with full legal validity.

To maintain transparency, draft ownership lists are being displayed at village and ward secretariats. Citizens can check their names and raise objections or corrections, which will then be addressed by the local Tahsildar before final issuance.

A Step Toward Rural Land Security

By combining drone-based mapping with digital property records, the Andhra Pradesh Svamitva initiative aims to resolve decades-old ownership ambiguities. Once completed, millions of rural residents will finally gain clear, marketable titles to their homes and plots - a major milestone in strengthening property rights and rural governance.