Delhi: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh  called upon Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE) to strengthen its internal legal system and gain expertise in state land revenue laws to effectively deal with unnecessary land related disputes.

Addressing the Defence Estates Day function in New Delhi on Friday, Mr Singh asserted that certain elements sometimes encroach upon the government land by forging land and property related documents and taking advantage of the legal loopholes, resulting in a litigation that goes on for years. He stressed that the time, money and energy wasted in the process must be avoided and DGDE must equip themselves to deal with such issues.

He suggested the DGDE to collaborate with the law universities and colleges to train and update its officers in land laws and about the judgments on land issues. Stressing the need to make its system more robust, he asked the department to increase competencies in land management and local area administration.

Mr Singh lauded the efforts of DGDE in maintenance and management of defence land by conducting surveys, digitising about 18 lakh acres of defence land and establishing a Centre of Excellence to promote the use of latest technologies in land surveys.

Mr. Singh made special mention of the Artificial Intelligence-based software, developed by DGDE to detect unauthorised constructions and encroachments on defence land, which has been put to use in cantonments across the country.

The Defence Minister also appreciated shortlisting of e-Chhawani software for the Digital India Awards 2022 under the category of digital empowerment of citizens. He said the software has played an important role in providing citizen centric services to the residents of cantonments.

Mr. Singh pointed out that the Home Ministry has requested DGDE to conduct a survey for Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI). It is the first survey of land and buildings by DGDE outside Ministry of Defence, which will be started by DEO Delhi in collaboration with revenue authorities from Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. He urged DGDE to prepare updated maps and land details for CEPI using latest technology.

Terming DGDE as a bridge that connects civil society with the Armed Forces, he exhorted the Organisation to bolstering that link by working with the approach of participatory development and coming out with more people centric policies, keeping in mind the interests of both sides.

The Minister also inaugurated SUVIDYA (Multilingual Cantt Board School Management Module) and BHOOMI RAKSHA (Encroachment Removal Module) during the ceremony.

Meanwhile Additional Director General (ADG) Defence Estate Ravi Shankar, while conducting the event outlined the glorious history and achievements of the department. He also elaborated on SUVIDYA and BHOOMI RAKSHA in detail.

SUVIDYA (Multilingual Cantt Board School Management Module)

According to the ADG Mr. Shankar Cantonment Boards operate and run various schools across 52 Cantonments in the country to impart quality education and various skills to students of the locality. There are 194 schools under Cantonment Boards with primary to Sr. Secondary level presently. There are presently 63,400 students enrolled in these schools, he said . To enhance ‘Ease of living’ for the citizens in Cantonment areas, School Management System has been implemented in these 194 schools.

Mr. Shankar said that keeping in view the requirements and suggestions of stakeholders, the functionalities of Suvidya has been enhanced by incorporating multilingual facility in six local languages other than English.

BHOOMI RAKSHA (Land Encroachment Removal Module)

According to him Ministry of Defence owns large tracts of land of approx. 18 lakh acres both inside and outside Cantonments. For efficient and effective monitoring of removal of encroachment from defence land, DGDE has developed an Encroachment module under Real Time Record Management project. The details about the encroachments and their removal status can easily be monitored by all the offices from that of DEOs/CEOs to the DGDE using the software. Also, various reports/statistics can be generated from the software to assess the number of encroachments year wise, number of notice/order issued command wise and office wise and progress in removal of encroachment which will assist  in timely action for removal of encroachment from defence land.

RAKSHA MANTRI EXCELLENCE AWARDS

On the occasion the Defence Minister also gave away Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence for innovation and digital achievements in the fields of health, education and sanitation along with public service and land management.

Defence State Minister Ajay Bhatt, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane, Director General Defence Estates Shri Ajay Kumar Sharma and other senior officers of Ministry of Defence graced the occasion by their presence.