To curb the issue of multiple mortgaging in various financial institutions by people availing loan and to manage seamless land mortgage recording, the National Land Commission Secretariat (NLCS) developed a web-based system, Land Mortgage System. It helps financial institutions and local government authorities to verify land mortgaging records. It is also an initiative to achieve digital transformation of the country.
The online Land Mortgage System allows financial institutions to authenticate and avoid fraud practices of double mortgaging of lands. The NLCS recorded 6,700 cases of fraudulent land transactions until the online system was put in place in August this year. In the last two months, 49,000 transactions were recorded.
“Just to give an example, some people have mortgaged the same plot of land in multiple financial institutions resulting in a lot of fraud cases. Land Mortgage System will be used by the financial institutions. For example, if you want to avail a loan from a particular financial institution. I will have to put collateral. When I give my land holdings, the financial institution will cross check if that particular plot had been mortgaged with other financial institutions,” said Pema Chewang, the Secretary of NLCS.
The NLCS also launched a web-based mobile application Tsamdro App for the highlanders to carry out first-ever survey of Tsamdros. It allows them to survey their respective Tsamdros using the mobile application within a shorter period of time. The National Land Commission Secretariat had developed the app to save resources while also instilling a sense of ownership and accountability over Tsamdros among the highlanders.
“There is limitation both in terms of financial and human resources in the NLCS. If we survey the highlanders’ Tsamdros it will take 15 years in the current conventional practice. But the mobile app will reduce 95 per cent of the projected financial expenses. Similarly, in terms of human capital, we need hundreds of surveyors. But with the app, each Tsamdro owner can do on his own,” the Secretary added.
Highlanders of Merag and Sagteng Gewogs in Trashigang surveyed and mapped more than 75,000 acres of Tsamdros using the app within a month in July this year as part of the pilot exercise of Tsamdro mapping.
“We first surveyed Tsamdros in 1961 using the informal method that measured the plots approximately. We saw a huge difference in the landholdings. For example, some households that owned more than a thousand acres of Tsamdros ended up holding only around 400 to 500 while surveying using the app. Similarly, some households had 100 to 200 end up holding more than 400 to 500 acres. Because respective owners get to survey their Tsamdros, people also know their boundaries well,” said Lama Rinchen, the Merag Gup.
“We have a committee at the gewog level to resolve the conflicts between herding communities. Many can use the app, for the few who cannot, they had their school-going children and neighbours help them use it. For some who cannot use it at all, we let the gewog tshogpas do for them,” added Sangay Dorji, the Sagteng Gup.
Considering it an efficient digital option, the NLCS plans to use the Tsamdro app to survey Tsamdro for the highlanders in rests of the country as well.
Phub Gyem
