Among the toughest challenges in the E-Governance landscape in India is the digitization and management of paper land records which often date back to the previous century.

Automated land records have the capacity to enhance the state coffers directly through lower costs and increased revenue generation. Land records also directly touch almost every farmer citizen.

Comat was among the expert advisors that the Government of Karnataka chose to help with the project. With help from the expert advisors the Government of Karnataka decided on a project idea. The plan was to create ‘Bhoomi’, a project that would digitize the records, while placing the control directly in the hands of the citizens through a network of end user computer kiosks. Comat’s solution included a report on the legislation necessary to enable the use of digital records, a detailed system study and technology architecture for the digitization of records and delivery through kiosks, a user billing and cost model for recovering the cost of development, and a mission-safe security model for the project. Comat’s software services group assisted in creating the first pilot implementation of the project.

Bhoomi won many awards including the CAPAM silver medal and became a role model for E-Governance projects around the world. Bhoomi became economically self sufficient from its first year of operation. The cost of the project was paid off from Bhoomi’s operating revenues in 2002. With a radically transformed land records management system, and empowered citizens the State of Karnataka is positioned in a thought and process leadership role in the Indian E-Governance space.

Land records document is one of the basic documents issued by the Revenue department to its farmers. The Land records Information (KHATAUNI) is a prime requisite for making decisions related to the land investment, development and management. Land records computerization will help in issuing land documents online and timely availability of updated information.