India's Dantewada District Digitizes Land Records Using Blockchain

According to Cointelegraph, the Dantewada District Administration in Chhattisgarh, India, has taken a significant step towards transparent land governance by digitizing over 700,000 land records dating back to the 1950s. These records have been secured on the Avalanche blockchain in collaboration with LegitDoc, a blockchain startup by Zupple Labs. This initiative aims to provide tamper-proof and easily accessible land records for the citizens of Dantewada. Indian Administrative Service officer Mayank Chaturvedi, the district collector of Dantewada, emphasized the importance of this development. He noted that for decades, citizens faced considerable delays in accessing their land records, with verification processes sometimes taking weeks. By digitizing these records and securing them on the blockchain, the administration has ensured that they are not only easily accessible but also protected from tampering. To facilitate access to these digitized records, the government has installed kiosks in every sub-district of the town. These kiosks allow both citizens and government officers to access land information, although prior authorization is required to ensure the privacy of sensitive data. LegitDoc CEO Neil Martis explained that the application is permissioned, allowing records to be accessed by revenue officers at the Tehsil level, which is the sub-district administration. The blockchain-based application enables officers to search for land properties and view digitized records on the blockchain. This includes various types of government records such as B-1 forms, records of rights, plot registers, ownership records, and cadastral maps. The application also allows for the verification of smart contracts linked to these digital documents via the Avalanche Explorer, ensuring the integrity of the records. Devika Mittal, a growth consultant for Avalanche India, expressed pride in supporting the Office of Land Records in Dantewada. She highlighted that this initiative provides trust and transparency to millions of citizens and positions Chhattisgarh at the forefront of land record digitization. The digitization effort not only eliminates the need for manual searching of land records but also helps tribal communities and farmers secure ownership records and reduce disputes. LegitDoc has previously been involved in various Indian state-level blockchain initiatives, including the issuance and verification of caste certificates, diploma certificates, and skill certificates. This project in Dantewada marks another milestone in leveraging blockchain technology for public record management.