Documentation and Data Base Generation :
A “Best Practice” is commonly defined as a technique or methodology that, through experience and research, has consistently led to anticipated result. The term is used frequently in areas such as government administration, the education system, project management, and others. However, one of the significant barriers to knowledge sharing and reapplication of experience is the limited culture of information and knowledge documentation and sharing. Although relevant knowledge may exist in people’s minds, it cannot always be tapped or may exist in formats that hamper people’s ability to know it or find it.
There have been several creative and constructive actions by various governmental agencies involved in land resource management, particularly related to Land reforms and other related matters relating to land like administration, registration etc. Making knowledge of such actions widely available may prevent the repetition of mistakes and loss of valuable time. Thus, the main rationale for documenting and sharing “Best Practices” is to enable persons and organizations working in the Land Administration to avoid “re-inventing the wheel” and to “learn in order to improve performance”.
There is a continuing need to understand and communicate how different states are administering their land resources and service delivery viz-a-viz benefiting institutional memory. This assumes significance after the Government of India have decided to implement the Centrally-Sponsored scheme in the shape of the National Land Records Modernization Programme (NLRMP). This integrated programme would modernize management of land records, minimize scope of land/property disputes, enhance transparency in the land records maintenance system, and facilitate moving eventually towards guaranteed conclusive titles to immovable properties in the country.
A positive shift in land Record Management is already being observed in many states and the rest are also following, it is therefore essential therefore that a coherent evidence-based documentation of such processes is generated benefiting all sectors of society in every region of the country.
One of the specific objectives of this documentation exercise is to maximize the impact of explicit and practical knowledge of Land Administration and Land Record Management, through effective knowledge sharing. That will enable peer learning among the concerned agencies, benefiting tremendously from exchanging experiences and hard-won solutions. The replication and adaptation of success stories will become easier
The other significant objective will be the use of this documentation as learning tool for Officer Trainees at the LBSNAA and in other training programmes being conducted from time to time.
