The Tamil Nadu government, since 2021, has distributed free pattas (land ownership documents) to 6.52 lakh economically disadvantaged individuals across the state. This initiative, aimed at providing secure land rights, underscores the government’s commitment to empowering the underprivileged and fostering socio-economic stability.
The distribution of pattas forms part of broader efforts by the revenue department, which has also facilitated the issuance of 2.75 crore e-certificates under various categories such as community, income, nativity, first graduate, and inter-caste marriage over the past three years. These certificates serve crucial administrative functions, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility to government welfare schemes. Highlighting achievements in rural development and social security, an official release highlighted that the DMK government allocated INR 5,337 crore towards old age pensions, marking a significant increase of INR 1,250 crore compared to the previous regime.
The enhancement of social security pensions, now at INR 1,200 for old age individuals and INR 1,500 for differently abled persons, has benefited 34.9 lakh pensioners statewide. The state government deployed INR 2,477 crore from the state disaster relief fund towards relief and restoration efforts following Cyclone Michaung in Chennai and neighboring districts, as well as floods in southern districts in December last year. This proactive approach underscores Tamil Nadu’s resilience in disaster management and commitment to swift rehabilitation.
The government’s digital initiatives have also streamlined land administration processes, with 41.81 lakh pattas transferred online through a newly launched scheme in 2022. A web-based system for online applications and processing has been implemented to facilitate accurate measurement and delineation of land boundaries, resolving historical land disputes effectively. The town survey land records (TSLR) of 179 out of 186 towns have been digitized, enhancing transparency and accessibility in land records management. Efforts are underway to extend this digital transformation to remaining towns, ensuring comprehensive coverage statewide.
