Ernakulam is set to become the first district in the State to digitise land-related textual data including basic tax register and ‘thandapper’ register, facilitating the universal rollout of online transfer of registry.
All 127 villages in the district are likely to turn digital by the middle of this month, setting the ground for the shift of transfer of registry entirely from manual to online mode.
“The online transfer of registry is expected to stabilise by this year end. Over 25 lakh entries were digitised over the past one year, thanks to the support of employees who worked in two shifts even during weekends and holidays. We have already utilised 90 per cent of the Plan fund allocation for data entry and online transfer of registry,” District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla told The Hindu .
“The digitisation of spatial data, which will be even more challenging, would be given focus next year. The digitisation of survey records is mainly aimed at the long-term maintenance of records. However, the public interest will be served with the digitisation of textual data itself,” Mr. Safirulla said.
Bringing accountability
Introduction of online transfer of registry is critical for Ernakulam considering its large number of land transactions.
The aim is to bring transparency and accountability besides rooting out corruption involved in the transfer of registry. At present, the process involves three stages - registering the land transaction at a sub registrar office from where it is forwarded to village office and then to survey. Now, the buyer and seller have to visit the village office repeatedly and even dole out some bribes in some cases to get the transfer of registry done.
“Under online transfer of registry, all sale deeds registered at sub registrar offices are automatically forwarded to the village office. In a single stroke it takes out the need for visiting village office and greasing the palms,” said Mr. Safirulla.
Since there is a clear time stamping, the officers concerned can’t sit on it while parties concerned can follow-up the progress through a unique identity number. The moment the transfer of registry is complete, the parties are informed through a SMS and an immediate change in the record status is also effected.
