Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the physical distribution of property cards on Sunday, aimed to enable villagers to use their property as an asset while taking loans and other financial benefits.

The launch of the cards under the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme was hailed by Modi as a “historic move” set to transform rural India. Modi addressed the event via video conferencing.

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The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has said the launch will enable around one lakh property holders to download their property cards through an SMS link sent on their mobile phones, and this would be followed by the physical distribution of property cards by respective state governments.

“I’m delighted that such great work is being done on a day that has historic importance. Today is the birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan and Nanaji Deshmukh,” Modi said in his address.

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These beneficiaries are from 763 villages across six states, including 346 from Uttar Pradesh, 221 from Haryana, 100 from Maharashtra, 44 from Madhya Pradesh, 50 from Uttarakhand and two from Karnataka.