Source- LRC Users’ Manual (Draft), NIC Imphal East, Manipur.

 

WHAT IS LOUCHA PATHAP?

Loucha Pathap referring to loucha or paddy field or land and Pathap as rules indicates “Rules governing the land” was inaugurated on 2^nd July 2004 by the Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri. Okram Ibobi Singh.

Loucha Pathap is the application software, indigenously developed by the National Informatics Center, Manipur for the purpose of the computerization of land records.

It provides for:

• An on-line system of land records, ensuring that land details are available with up-to-date information.

•  Provide information and printed records on Dag Chitha, Jamabandi/ROR, Patta land, Location, Check list or Verification Report, Khas or non-Patta/State land.

•  Facility to record and maintain scanned copies of all land transactions relating to cases of Mutation, Partition and other Miscellaneous Cases.

•  Maintain a record of daily transactions over the land, by requiring that all land transactions is through the software.

•  A record of daily land revenue collections is maintained

•  Maintain a record of the history of ownership of the land, hence ensuring against theft or cases of fraud related to land.

•  Print details of the history of ownership over the land.

•  Search details on land through either through the name of the owner, family name, the Dag No., Patta No.

•  Use of biometric device to safeguard the information scanned and recorded in the software.

The software used is the Client Server Model having:

• SQL Server for Backend Database.

• Visual Basics 6 for Frontend.

• Report Regeneration is through the Crystal Report.

The Loucha Pathap software works through the following instruments:

Equipments used for Loucha Pathap:

•   One Biometric Device

•   One Server Computer System.

•   Two Client Computer Systems.

•   Two Dot Matrix Printer.

•   One HP 7450C Scanner.

•   Two DAT Drive Tape.

•   One 2 KVA On-Line UPS.

•   One 2 KVA EXK 2800 Genset.

The Biometric device identifies the user of the software and the Computer. Through the use of the device the software and its content information is protected against theft and unauthorized use by any other person, except by the person whose thumb print is scanned and recorded.

A screen representation of the Biometric device is given below;

Source- LRC Users’ Manual (Draft), NIC Imphal East, Manipur.

 

The equipments used for Loucha Pathap is very restricted. Except for the Biometric device, the land record computerization for the Porompat Revenue Circle is done through only three computers. All cases of Mutation, Partition, other land records and Jamabandi are scanned, recorded and printed through the two Computers connected to the Dot Matrix Printer. Further, to deal with the erratic supply of power the Genset serves as an alternative source of power, ensuring that the flow of work is not interrupted.

Developed in Manipuri script Loucha Pathap, the software is operated by two officials in the rank of an LDC or UDC.  

WHAT MAKES LOUCHA PATHAP A BEST PRACTICE

Loucha Pathap is technologically based application software for the purpose of computerization of land records. Given the existing condition of dismal infrastructure, high corruption, low governance and the prevailing issues over security of life and property, the successful implementation of Loucha Pathap is significant.

Loucha Pathap has successfully checked the rise of increasing corruption related to land, improved the functioning of land administration, secured ownership over property and has reduced incidents of mal-governance in the state of Manipur.

Land administration has always been fraught with difficulties. For patta issuance the presence of the Amil is necessary. However, under Loucha Pathap the person needing the land patta or such other records do not have to wait for the Amil. All that is needed is to visit the Office of the SDC Revenue Circle. The cost of land patta is also a mere Rs. 15/-, as against the money charged earlier; from the time wasted in waiting, bribery, running from post to post and so on. Ironically the money that exchanged hands never reached the State treasury.

Bribery and corruption is therefore widely rampant in land administration. The thought of time wastage in waiting for the land revenue official to arrive, for the land Patta often forces the common people to engage in bribery and corruption. However with the computerization of land records, speedy and efficient service delivery is a reality. Further, corruption has been checked with regard to fraud or theft of land ownership. Forgery of land records is another common practice with the hand written patta. But with the introduction of the computerized system of land records, such actions have been limited, as land records are now printed based upon the information stored in the Loucha Pathap software.

Corruption is the highest indicator of the cause of distrust in state administration. Particularly, in a state like Manipur where discontentment against the state is absolutely high restoring the faith of the people in the State is of prime significance. In such a scenario, Loucha Pathap is one such people centered initiative.

 Under Loucha Pathap the following objectives are met:- 

a. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY THE PRACTICE

The use of Loucha Pathap has transformed the traditional system of land administration in various ways. By adopting Information and Technology (IT) based system of Land record management, Loucha Pathap has successfully addressed the problems of:

 

   

The success of Loucha Pathap is demonstrated by the fact that  in terms of land revenue collection the Porompat Circle, of Imphal East has been adjudged the Best Circle in Land Revenue Collection.

 

b.  OPERATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY AS A MONITORING MECHANISM OF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS 

Accountability of the service providers is checked through various monitoring mechanisms. The process of cross-verification adopted in the Data entry ensures that all information entered is correct and without any errors. Chances of duplication of information are also checked. 

Further, the use of the Biometric device ensures that unauthorized use of the Loucha Pathap software is not possible. Only the concerned authorized agent or software Operating Official will have access to the information stored in the software. Access to information is also not given to the land revenue officials like the Amils, Kanungo and any other Officer from the Office of the SDC. 

Collusive corruption between the Amils, Kanungo and the SDC officials as a process of manual writing of the Patta is also not possible. Thus, chances of fraud and theft are also greatly reduced.

 

c. SPEED & EASE OF SERVICE DELIVERY 

With the adoption of Loucha Pathap efficient and effective service delivery is possible. Earlier the process of applying for land related details was long and often a very tiresome process. However with the introduction of Loucha Pathap, any landowner desiring information can directly approach the Office of the SDC Revenue, situated at the NIC, Imphal East. With a fee of Rs. Fifteen Only/- the concerned LDC Revenue Official can directly scan and print out the required information. The printed paper would then be signed by the SDC. 

However, it was decided in 2006 that any person desiring information have to first submit an application to the SDC Office. Then, at the NIC Office, where the computers are placed the required documents are scanned, copied and printed. Records of the patta issued are also maintained. 

Nevertheless, it would be wrong to assume that service delivery has not improved. Rather Loucha Pathap has greatly cut down on the loss of time and has helped reduce corruption and bribery. As Amin Norenjit Singh and Ibotonbi Singh informs, “As compared to the earlier process Loucha Pathap is easy, very speedy and systematic in service.” 

 

d. SOCIAL WELL BEING

Land is the most important asset of man. Under the computerization of land records, ownership over land is secured. The details of the land, whether mutation, partition, changes of ownership and others, cannot be manipulated by the land revenue officials or any other person.  

Moreover the fear of land patta fading or tearing is also reduced. Since the history of the land is recorded, scanned and saved by the software, all which is required is for the landowner to request for a copy of his patta. Older documents that may have been lost or destroyed can also be retrieved, scanned, copied and printed.  

f .TRANSPARENCY 

The computerization of land records has brought about transparency in land administration. As seen, Loucha Pathap has checked corruption and fraud in land related cases. Any chances of manipulation of land record details, possible in the manual hand written paper form practiced earlier is now not possible. Through computerization, all land record information is safe from manipulation.  

The indictor of transparency is also boosted by the faith of the public in the computerization system. Thus Supervisor Kanungo Mr. Amu Khan states, “Now praja do not want paper land record. They want computer printed land records.”                                                                                  

g. REPLICABILITY & SUSTAINABILITY OF LOUCHA PATHAP

E-governance initiatives are highly replicable and sustainable. As seen, Loucha Pathap itself is a replica of Bhoomi. The issue of replicability of Loucha Pathap within the State of Manipur depends upon only one factor, initiative.  

However most critics would argue that, the prevailing law and order situation in the state makes Manipur highly vulnerable to arson and damage of public property like State offices, schools and colleges. It is with this concern that the computers using Loucha Pathap are housed at the NIC Office within the compound of the District Commissioner. Further, the state lacks the required infrastructure facilities. However, it is important to point out that irrespective of the above drawbacks Loucha Pathap is successfully in operation. 

The question therefore is the lack of initiative. Computerization of land records will be possible irrespective of the above drawbacks, provided the right guidance and leadership is available. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that Loucha Pathap is both replicable and sustainable in the State. 

h. APPROXIMATE COST-BENEFIT ASSESSMENT

For the implementation of the Loucha Pathap software a grant of Rs. Twenty lacks was proposed. However, only five lacks of the proposed grant was given for the purpose of computerization of land records. 

Based on the total cost spent in the process of the implementation, the benefit far outweighs. As seen;

• By 2007 December, the average number of Pattas provided averaged 3750.

•  Able to check 100% manipulation.

•  The On-line system ensures that all information is updated.

•  Increase in land revenue collection.

•  Check corruption and bribery.

•  Ensure that ownership over land is protected and secured.

 

i. PARTNERSHIP

Successful partnership is the key to the implementation of Loucha Pathap. The implementing agency of Loucha Pathap is the National Informatics Center, Imphal East. 

However, mention must be made of the help and assistance provided by the Office of the Deputy Commisisoner Imphal East, Mr. Bhaktaraj Singh, SDO Porompat, Mr. Shantikumar Kabui, SDC Circle Porompat and the Land Records Team stationed at NIC.

LOCATION OF THE PROJECT

The Loucha Pathap project was introduced for the Imphal East district Porompat Revenue Cirlce. Though intended to be located at the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer, the office of the Loucha Pathap is at the District Informatics Office (DIO), Porompat. The address is as:

Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East.

Office of the SDO- Porompat Revenue Circle,

District Informatics Office,
Porompat,Imphal East – 795005 
Manipur
Tel. No- 0385- 2458387
Fax No- 0385 - 2458387

 

BACKGROUND OF THE PROGRAMME

In December 2000, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of all the nine Districts in the State was given a demonstration by the National Informatics Center (NIC) on the software for the computerization of land records for the respective districts. In 2001, the Department of Revenue sent letters of reminders to the DC’s on initiating the computerization of land records in their respective districts. However the lack of commitment from the Districts even by the end of the year made the Directorate Settlement and the Department of Land Records inform the Offices of the DC’s on authorizing the NIC on taking up the task of introducing the computerization of land records in the State.

However, though the directives were issued for all the nine Districts in the State it was only in one District, Imphal East that the attempt at computerization of land records was initiated, by the then DC Mr. Y. Surchandra Singh.  However, only the Porompat Revenue Circle in the Imphal East District was covered.

In the other eight Districts of the State; the three valley districts namely Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur and the five hill districts, Chandel, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong the attempt at land record computerization remained on paper only. 

In the Imphal East district the data entry work however began in the year 2002. Further, the process for data entry was not an easy task. From the very beginning it was fraught with financial crunch, in-cooperative staff, technological backwardness and problems arising out of the existing law and order situation and others.

Ironically, as compared to the other states where e-governance was attempted, in Manipur the data entry and validation process was accomplished without government expenditure.

By 2004, the process of data entry was successfully completed. The application software for the process of computerization of land records was developed by the National Informatics Center, Manipur as a replica of Bhommi, the land records computerization software applied in the state of Karnataka. 

PROSPECTS OF LOUCHA PATHAP

An integral component of Loucha Pathap is the e-Kiosk system, costing about Rs. 2 lakhs. The Kiosk, as a touch screen interface was supposed to be established at the Office of the SDC, where any landowner could access any information related to the land at the touch of a button. The Kiosk without the help of an Operator could provide information on the land on the based of the Dag or Patta No. However taking into consideration the specific situation prevailing in the State and the very limited financial resources available, the idea was given up. However a hope for the future is that such a Kiosk will be established. 

The future for Loucha Pathap, at the moment looks bright. Awareness about the benefits associated with the computerization of land records has made the people in the State ask for wider implementation of the computerization programme. Presently, the process of expansion in the other Revenue Circles like Keirao Bitra is underway.

LESSONS LEARNT

The experience of the computerization of land records in the State of Manipur sheds new light upon the understanding of development in Manipur.

The prime mover of development contrary to popular opinion is not capital. This is particularly significant for Manipur. Development has never actually been a sincere commitment of state leaders. Moreover, the capital that flows into the state for developmental purposes often does not serve the means.

However, funds for development cannot be ignored but an equally important factor is the commitment to development. The committed leader invested with the proper ideas and initiative to be undertaken will shape the path to development. As,  Mr. Thaonoujam Inaobi Singh, DIO rightly states, “If other states can have, why can’t our state have land records computerization?”

REFERENCES-

Primary Source:

• Interview with Mr. Yambem Thamkishore Singh, DC, Imphal East.

• Interview with Mr. Thounaojam Inaobi Singh, DIO, NIC- Imphal East, Manipur.

•  Interview with Ms. Puyam Prembala, LDC-Revenue, Porompat Revenue Circle, Imphal East.

• Interview with Supervisor Kanungo Mr. Amu Khan. Interview with Amil Mr Thangjam Norenjit Singh and Amil Mr. Nongthombam Ibotonbi      Singh.

Secondary Source:

1. LRC Users’ Manual (Draft), NIC Imphal East, Manipur.