The Manipur government embarked on an ambitious e-Governance exercise with the launch of "Loucha Pathap", an application software developed as a standard land records management system in the state. Loucha Pathap, which also refers to the 'Rules governing the land', was introduced in the four valley districts for Computerisation of surveyed lands. Out of nine districts of Manipur the five are in the hills, which are not surveyed unlike the four surveyed valley districts. Edited by Prashant Belwariar TECHNOLOGY The "Loucha Pathap" software, was developed using Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 as the front end interface and SQL Server 2000 as the back end database over Windows NT server. The Hon'ble CM had earlier inaugurated the system at Imphal East district where the software underwent its pilot phase. Computerisation has been taken up at twelve SDC circles out of 34 in the four valley districts of the state and for the hilly districts the exercise is likely to be taken up after the completion of the present phase. TARAKISHORI RAJKUMARI Principal Systems Analyst, NIC Manipur tara@nic.in System security is provided by Biometric authentication using fingerprints of the authorized operator as well as the system administrator. Leap Office Lite Version 2.09b and GIST SDK 2.05 enables scripting in regional language. Various reports are generated using Seagate Crystal Reports 7. MANUAL SYSTEM In the manual system, the process of tracing the details of a particular land was time consuming and tiresome. But, with the adoption of the computerized system the process eased considerable promoting timely service, an important parameter for e-governance. BENEFITS Loucha Pathap is an online system of maintaining land records with finger print user authentication. The software provides facilities for searching a particular record by giving the owner name or Dag. No. or Patta No. It enables marking of mortgage/objection of a particular plot. The software prevents such marked plot from further transaction such as mutation, partition or issue of computerized ROR / Patta etc. It gives important information to banks and public for any future financial encumbrance. Single window delivery - Record of Right i.e Jamabandi and online transaction for mutation and partition along with revenue collection had the desired effect. Scanned order copy of SDC/SDO is maintained for every transaction. The process of mutation is fully synchronized with the field-work done by the revenue officials. It facilitates record correction and ownership history reducing the task of revenue record maintenance. Transparency - Services are available to citizens in a transparent and efficient manner. It provides history of land owners and nature of ownership during land related disputes. Searching of land records are possible by name of the family or ownership history of the land can be provided. Monitoring - All the necessary MIS reports in land and revenue administration can be generated for faster monitoring, planning and decision making. It also helps in monitoring the Government lands from encroach-ment and for easy maintenance and updation of land records. Revenue Tax Collection - No land transaction is possible without necessary land revenue tax clearance. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The State Revenue Department is responsible for effective land administration and collection of land revenue. The revenue officials fully adopted the workflow based system approach. Regular monitoring and review is ensured in coordination with concerned Deputy Commissioners. CHALLENGES Initially setting up of infrastructure and non availability of adequate power was the major challenge. All activity related to data entry, verification and validation was supported by NIC District Centre with the help of Mandols (village record keeper). The revenue officials were given training and workshops were organized to fully acquaint them with the system. Salient Features Facility to scan and keep digital format of the Mutation / Partition order passed by the Revenue Department. The system helps in monitoring Government land from encroach-ments. Provision for interfacing the touch screen KIOSK at the office complex so as to enable public to search or query for land records. Provision to demand landholding tax from the landowner before updating the transacted plot. Provision to view land records by the owners/citizens through Internet. Automatic daily backup of land records from Server and all connected PCs before logging out of the Loucha Pathap application software. The system has facilitated monitoring & maintenance of Land Records, land mutation along with wide access of documents. It is likely to initiate re-engineering of back-end processes and changes that take advantages of Integrating land records with land registration system in a secure environment. For further information KH RAJEN SINGH State Informatics Officer NIC Manipur State Centre New Secretariat Imphal - 795001 Ph: 0385-2461206 sio-man@nic.in