Lucknow, Mar 20: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that when he took charge in 2020, patwaris (local revenue officials) wielded more power than collectors.
Speaking at the birth centenary celebrations of renowned writer Shrilal Shukla in Lucknow, LG Sinha spoke about the sweeping reforms undertaken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to digitize land records and empower farmers. “When I took over the reins of Jammu and Kashmir, patwaris were more powerful than the collector. All the land records were in Urdu, and even the collector was unable to understand what was written,” LG Sinha said, as per KNO.
“Earlier, patwaris were calling the shots, and locals were suffering. Now, people have direct access to their land records, and governance has become more transparent,” he said.
He said that before digitization landowners faced significant hurdles, including requiring permission from the revenue minister to plant or cut an orchard. “To address these challenges, the administration launched a large-scale land digitization drive, ensuring transparency and ease of access to land records,” LG Sinha said, adding, “Many outdated and regressive land laws were abolished to benefit farmers, removing obstacles that had long hindered agricultural activities.”
LG Sinha also emphasized initiatives aimed at benefiting refugees who had come from Pakistan. “Under a new scheme, such displaced individuals were granted land and ownership rights, a move aimed at providing them with long-term security and stability,” he said.
Referring to the ‘Meri Zameen, Meri Nigrani’ program, under which land passbooks were distributed to landowners, LG Sinha said, “The initiative ensured clarity in land titles and prevented fraudulent transactions.”
Highlighting the success of these digital initiatives, the Lieutenant Governor said that Jammu and Kashmir has now surpassed Madhya Pradesh in providing online services, emerging as a leader in land record digitization.
Earlier, paying homage to Shrilal Shukla, the Lieutenant Governor shed light on the life and timeless works of Shrilal Shukla and his deep understanding of the social and political issues of rural India.
The Lieutenant Governor said, the power of Shrilal Shukla’s knowledge, his ideas, his imagination, and his satire not only entertain us but also guide us to build self-reliant villages and a developed India.
“Once in hundreds of years, few writers attain the wisdom made available by the existence. Shrilal Shukla was one of them. His writing is truly a light on the path.
The works of Shrilal Shukla contain life’s mysteries and the intimate experience of everyday living. I believe his words soaked in his experience are eternal. Raag Darbari, in particular, has become ingrained in our consciousness,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized the significant role of great writers like Shrilal Shukla in inspiring positive change in society.
The Lieutenant Governor said, “Books are like powerful inner eyes that provide glimpses into the world of knowledge and wisdom. The writer through their alphabets allows us to think and enlarge our perspective and these writings are the source of cognitive insight.
“Shrilal Shukla’s novels and stories have served to enlighten the society during that period and his thoughts continue to warn us in our developmental journey to focus on reform and I believe his words are more powerful than any other presentation”.
Shri JPS Rathore, Minister of State for Cooperative; Uttar Pradesh; Shri Dileep Sanghani, Chairman, IFFCO and Dr U.S Awasthi, Managing Director, IFFCO also spoke on the occasion and paid homage to Shrilal Shukla.
Bollywood Actors Shri Pankaj Tripathi and Ashok Pathak recited an excerpt from Shrilal Shukla’s famous work ‘Raag Darbari’.
An Exhibition organized in the revered memory of Shrilal Shukla was also inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor.