Roadmap for Answer Writing Introduction Define the LARR Act Briefly explain the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR) 2013 and its implementation date (1st January 2014). Thesis Statement Introduce the purpose of the Act: to address historical ...
Access to land is a critical factor for economic growth and poverty reduction. For government, industry, and citizens to be able to use this asset effectively and to minimize land conflicts, digitization can help by improving access to reliable land and property records. Advantages of digitization oRead more
Access to land is a critical factor for economic growth and poverty reduction. For government, industry, and citizens to be able to use this asset effectively and to minimize land conflicts, digitization can help by improving access to reliable land and property records.
Advantages of digitization of land records:
- Reduction in litigations and burden of cases: A NITI Aayog paper suggests that land disputes on average take about 20 years to be resolved. Land disputes add to the burden of the courts and impact sectors and projects that are dependent on these disputed land titles.
- Promoting agricultural credit: Land is often used as collateral for obtaining loans by farmers. Digitization of land records and online creation of equitable mortgages would help in faster disbursement of agriculture credit.
- Development of new infrastructure: The economy of the country is shifting from agrarian to manufacturing and services-based. However, several new infrastructure projects are witnessing delays due to a lack of updated land records.
- Urbanization and housing: Slum dwellers do not have access to a clear land title or ownership rights. Further, since many colonies in which the poor reside are unauthorized, it is difficult for Urban local bodies to provide basic services to them. Easier online approvals of plans and occupancy certificates will provide clarity over ownership status.
- To check benami transactions: Unclear titles and non-updated land records enable carrying out property transactions in a non-transparent way. The Standing Committee on Finance in 2015 noted that the generation of black money through benami transactions could be eliminated by the digitization of land records and their regular updation.
Challenges Faced in Digitization of Land Records:
- Lack of unified legal framework: The system of land records was inherited from the Zamindari system. The legal framework in India does not provide for guaranteed ownership, and how information about land records is collected and maintained further exacerbates the gaps in these records.
- Land unavailability in the development of infrastructure: These delays occur because of non-availability of encumbrance-free land, non-updation of land records, resistance to joint measurement survey of land records, demands for higher compensation by landowners, and filing of large number of arbitration cases by landowners.
- Lack of manpower: One of the major roadblocks in ensuring continuous updation of land records is the lack of skilled manpower in the land record departments of states.
- Poor synergy across land record departments: The Revenue department is the custodian of textual records; the survey and the settlement departments manage the spatial records and the registration department responsible for registering land transactions, lacks synergy in functioning.
- Digital divide: Lack of awareness and digital illiteracy are prevalent, especially in rural areas.
To address these challenges, there is a need for wider adoption of technologies such as geographical information systems, data warehouses, and webs. It would help in making land records management efficient and easier for decision-making, strategy planning, and productive modeling. Also, an online or digital record department could be established for the betterment of online land records maintenance.
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Model Answer Introduction The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR) 2013 replaced the outdated Land Acquisition Act of 1894. This new legislation aims to address historical injustices related to land acquisition, focusing on fairRead more
Model Answer
Introduction
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR) 2013 replaced the outdated Land Acquisition Act of 1894. This new legislation aims to address historical injustices related to land acquisition, focusing on fair compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement for affected individuals.
Key Issues Addressed by the Act
Implications for Industrialization and Agriculture
Conclusion
The LARR Act of 2013 aims to uphold citizens’ fundamental right to livelihood by ensuring fair compensation and rehabilitation in land acquisition processes. While it addresses critical issues related to displacement and compensation, it also presents challenges for industrialization and agricultural growth that need careful consideration.
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