People waiting for their copy of jamabandi at the window of a farad kendra in Nawanshahr. A Tribune photograph

People do not have to run after patwaris or seek recommendation for obtaining the copy of jamabandi.

"Now, we have to spent just Rs 20 and wait for 20 minutes to get the computerised copy of jamabandi at the farad kendras," said Mohinder Pal of Jadla village.

"This is indeed a revolutionary administrative reform introduced by the state government to ensure transparent and hassle-free delivery of public utility service to the rural people," said elated farmers, adding that earlier it had been a cumbersome exercise as they had to make several rounds and requests to the patwaris concerned for obtaining the jamabandi copy.

Deputy Commissioner Tanu Kashyap said out of a total of 474 villages, the record of 471 villages had been made online in the district. The work on computerisation of land records of Nawanshahr, Banga and Balachaur urban areas was going on. "With a view to ensuring prompt, transparent and hassle-free delivery of public utility services, as many as these farad kendras have been set up," the DC said, adding that so far 1,39,312 people had availed the benefit of the services.

The government had earned revenue amounting to over Rs 1 crore by charging a meagre fee of Rs 20 per jamabandi paper. At first, the farad kendra was set up at Balachaur, where as many as 53,622 jamabandis have been issued thus earning a revenue of Rs 36,94,760. Similarly, in Nawanshahr, 51,992 jamabandis have been issued and a revenue of Rs 42 lakh and at Banga a revenue of Rs 29 lakh has been fetched by issuing 33,698 jamabandis so far.

District Revenue Officer Shiv Kumar said to improve the delivery of public utility service further, work stations were being set up at sub-division level for making availability of the patwaris. He appealed to the people not to fall a prey to any middleman and instead file a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner if any unscrupulous element misguides them or charges more than the prescribed fee of Rs 20.