Introduction

Introduction The Traditional role of governance all over the world had undergone’ paradigm shift’ from rules, hierarchy and neutrality towards result orientation, facilitation, responsive and citizen centric governance.The important features of good governance are required to be incorporated into the public services delivery mechanism ICT has emerged as an instrument for reforms in many fields including land sector. Land Governance issues are complex which encompasses statutory, customary and religious institutions, as well as informal institutionsTo address the complexity of land related problems, e-governance practices in land administration has been introduced.In 2008, a modified Scheme named National Land Records Modernization Programme (NLRMP) was introduced with an aims to usher in a system of updated land records, automated and automatic mutation, integration between textual and spatial records, inter-connectivity between revenue and registration, to replace the present deeds registration and presumptive title systemThe NLRMP has 3 major components: (a) Computerization of land record (b) Survey/re-survey (c) Computerization of Registration. The District has been taken as the unit of implementationIn Punjab, Integrated Land Record Management Project was introduced to provide an integrated computerization of land records management system and registration of documentsThe capture data of record of rights and other registers provide all information to the citizens. Land record data with geographical information system can be accessed on internet. Punjab Government has enacted Punjab Right to Service Act in 2011 with the sole objective of providing an effective framework for time bound delivery of services in order to promote transparency and accountability. The land governance aspects such as jammabandi, girdawari, registration of all kinds, lease deeds, partnership deeds, mutations and all certificates related with land are covered in this Act. The Act has specified name of service, given time limit, designation Officer and Appellate Authorities. The PRTS Act has empowered citizens to seek services in a hassle free, transparent and time bound manner through different service delivery mechanism

ObjectivesTo assess of the implementation of policy and legislation related with land governanceTo examine the policy implementation of e-governance in Punjab for Digitalization of land record. To analyse the implementation of Right to Service Act in Punjab in land governance To assess the level of satisfaction of the citizens regarding services provided regarding land records. HypothesesLand services are provided within stipulated time period.Right to Service Act has brought transparency and accountability in land services delivery mechanismInfrastructure in Fard Kendras is adequate to provide the services.

Citizen- official interface is tested by questionnaire and interview method. These methods are used to assess the level of satisfaction of the citizens regarding public delivery service mechanism related with land records and related services. The employees of fard Kendras are also interviewed in order to assess the availability of infrastructure and working conditions. The study of land governance reforms in Punjab is done by using primary and secondary sources. The primary data is collected from one district of Punjab.. The sample size is 150 citizens who had visited Fard Kendras for land related services.  The officials working in these Fard Kendras are also interviewed. The secondary data is collected from official documents of Government of Punjab, various reports by committees and commissions submitted from time to time, statistical abstracts, books, journals and online journals. The collected data is presented in tabulated form and analyzed.

ResultsGraph No. 1: Awareness about Punjab Land Record Society’s website

Graph No. 2: Awareness about Punjabi keyboard/knowledge of translation software on PLRS Website

Graph No. 3: Openness about the system

Graph No. 4: Online availability of land records has reduced the corruption

Graph No. 5: Perception regarding transparency

Graph No 6: Redressal mechanism at fard kendras 

Author: Dr. Navreet Kaur

Affiliation: Department of Public Administration, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India 160014

Author’s Email Address: navreet9@gmail.com