KKN Gurugram  Desk | The Bihar Land Survey has made significant strides toward improving its efficiency with the introduction of independent servers across all divisions. This change, initiated on Thursday, aims to expedite the entire land surveying process and resolve storage issues related to documents. With these advancements, landowners in Bihar can now easily upload their self-declarations and genealogy details through the official website of the Directorate of Land Survey, bringing ease and accessibility to a once cumbersome process.

Independent Servers to Enhance the Speed of Land Surveying in Bihar

As part of ongoing efforts to streamline and accelerate the land survey process in Bihar, the state’s land survey divisions have now implemented independent servers for each region. This measure was taken to eliminate the previous storage bottlenecks that had plagued the system, slowing down the overall progress. Now, with the introduction of this independent server system, landowners will no longer face challenges while uploading essential documents, such as their self-declarations (Swaghoshna) and genealogical records (Vanshavali).

According to an official from the Directorate of Land Survey’s technical department, a new user interface has been introduced on the website. This allows users to select their district, after which the data is directly stored in the regional database related to that district. This enhancement ensures that each region’s data is securely stored in its own server, making it more organized and manageable.

Relief for Landowners: Ease in Document Uploading

The division of the servers at the divisional level will bring significant relief to landowners. With this new system in place, the previously chaotic process of digitizing and scanning data has now become more efficient. The digitization process has accelerated, and the storage of scanned data has been simplified, reducing any previous barriers.

Previously, landowners faced difficulties in uploading their documents due to technical glitches and server overloads. Now, however, with segregated servers for each district, uploading these documents will be much smoother, providing greater ease for landowners in Bihar. The decision to implement this system reflects the government’s commitment to making the land survey process faster and more user-friendly.

Increased Efficiency in Data Entry and Scanning After Server Segmentation

A video conference held on Thursday included discussions between Kamlesh Kumar Singh, the Director of the Land Records and Survey Department, and the settlement officers (Bandoobast Padadhikari) from 38 districts of Bihar. The primary focus of this meeting was to evaluate the effectiveness of the newly segmented servers. According to the officers, this shift has led to noticeable improvements in data entry, digitization, and scanning of documents.

However, some district officers pointed out that uploaded documents were not visible on the system, despite being uploaded. The Director of Land Survey assured the officers that any technical issues would be resolved within 24 hours to ensure smooth functioning.

Survey Employees Resign Amid Concerns

Despite the system enhancements, there have been some challenges. A significant number of survey employees have resigned from their positions. As per reports, nearly 900 survey workers have submitted their resignations. The majority of these employees were appointed to junior engineer positions, and after securing those posts, they opted to leave their previous roles as survey staff.

In Gaya district alone, 42 survey employees resigned, and 26 employees in Madhubani followed suit. This trend of resignation appears to be a consequence of their appointment to junior engineer posts, which offer better career prospects. The Director has directed that all resignation and non-objection issues be promptly communicated to the Directorate for resolution.

Plans for Improvement in Jamabandi Records

The state government is also focusing on improving the Jamabandi records, which are crucial for land ownership documentation. These records are currently being digitized, but there have been discrepancies in some records, leading to delays and complications in the digitization process. To address these issues, special camps will be organized in various regions.

The Revenue and Land Reforms Department has informed all SDOs (Sub-Divisional Officers) about the need to correct these errors in the Jamabandi records through these special camps. The goal is to ensure that all Jamabandi records are either digitized or corrected through an online process without any discrepancies.

Special Camps to Fix Errors in Jamabandi Records

The primary objective of these camps is to correct any errors in the Jamabandi records and digitize them properly. The government has issued specific guidelines for the camps, emphasizing the importance of completing this work within a specified time frame. The Secretary of the Revenue and Land Reforms Department has directed that these camps be organized in all revenue circles to ensure that every record is error-free.

The camps will focus on fixing issues related to the Jamabandi records and ensuring the digital records align accurately with the physical records. The process will be overseen by district-level authorities, with the SDOs and revenue staff taking primary responsibility for conducting the work.

Process for Updating Jamabandi Records

To improve the accuracy of land records, the Revenue Department has made provisions for using laptops provided by the department. These laptops will be used by revenue staff to update Jamabandi records digitally. The errors in the online records will be corrected on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that every landholding is accurately represented in the system.

In cases where changes have already been made to the online records based on changes in land use, ownership, or legal notices, these updated records will be compared with the original Jamabandi records. If discrepancies are found, they will be rectified promptly.

Inspection of Camps by DCLRs

In order to maintain accountability and ensure the smooth functioning of the camps, the Department Secretary has instructed all District Collectors (DCLRs) to physically inspect the camps. This will ensure that the camps are being conducted as per the prescribed guidelines. Additionally, updates on the progress of the camps will be gathered through daily video conferences with the Deputy Collectors.

The responsibility for updating the Jamabandi records will rest with the revenue employees, as well as the Circle Officers (COs) in each region. The Secretary has called for immediate action to organize the camps and send a detailed action plan for the successful completion of the task.

With the launch of independent servers in all divisions and the improvement in digitization processes, Bihar is poised to transform its land surveying system. The changes aim to make the entire process more efficient, transparent, and accessible to landowners across the state.

While there are some challenges ahead, particularly with regard to employee resignations and minor technical issues, the steps being taken by the Revenue and Land Reforms Department are expected to bring about significant improvements. The organization of special camps for Jamabandi correction, coupled with the new server system, promises to ease the difficulties faced by landowners.

These advancements will not only make land record management more streamlined but also help in reducing corruption and improving the overall land administration system in Bihar. As the process progresses, Bihar is on its way to modernizing its land records and surveying system, bringing much-needed relief to landowners and citizens alike.