Odisha Strengthens Citizen-Centric Revenue Services, Reviews Key Reforms and Digital Initiatives

Bhubaneswar: The Revenue and Disaster Management Department on Monday reviewed its reform agenda and service delivery mechanisms at a high-level meeting chaired by Minister Suresh Pujari at Lok Seva Bhawan, with a focus on enhancing transparency and citizen-centric governance.

The meeting featured a detailed presentation on the department’s recent achievements, ongoing initiatives, and future roadmap, followed by discussions on improving efficiency in revenue administration and strengthening public service delivery systems.

A key highlight was the progress in correction of Column-2 Records of Rights (RoRs), where over 62.25 lakh land records have been surveyed, with more than 58 lakh already corrected. To simplify the process, a dedicated mobile application has been introduced, enabling easier access and faster resolution.

Officials informed that more than one crore services were delivered under the Odisha Right to Public Services framework in the last financial year, covering land records, registration, and certification services. To further improve accessibility, 11 services have been integrated into the ‘Ama Sathi’ WhatsApp chatbot, allowing citizens to avail services remotely.

The department has also expanded infrastructure by opening 108 new sub-registrar offices during 2025–26, while introducing online demarcation services to ensure time-bound and transparent delivery. The ‘e-Registration Odisha’ mobile application now offers facilities such as online slot booking, encumbrance certificates, and certified copies.

In a significant reform measure, land classification categories have been streamlined from 7,797 to just 22, while 750 types of ‘Satwa’ have been simplified into four categories to make land records more comprehensible. Amendments to the Odisha Survey and Settlement Rules, 1962, now empower Tahasildars to correct pre-settlement records.

The department has also taken steps to ease processes for housing and business, including simplified apartment registration norms and exemptions from Change of Land Use permissions for MSMEs and startups. A nominal stamp duty structure has been introduced for registration of common areas in apartment complexes.

Under welfare initiatives, over 28,500 landless families have been provided homestead land under the Vasundhara scheme, while land pattas have been issued to more than 25,000 government and aided educational institutions.

The Minister also highlighted the establishment of a dedicated Shri Jagannath Land Cell to safeguard temple lands in Puri and noted that a new transfer policy for OAS and ORS officers has been introduced to ensure administrative transparency.