Land Revenue Settlement
Ryotwari Settlement
British East India Company introduced three types of Land Revenue Settlement in India -
- Permanent Settlement (Zamindari/Jamindari Bandobast)
- Ryotwari Settlement
- Mahalwari Settlement
Ryotwari Settlement (Ryotwari System)
Initially it was introduced in 1792 by Captain Reed in the Baramahal area (Karnataka). Later in 1820, Thomas Munro introduced it in Madras and Elphinstone introduced it in Bombay presidency.
It covered near about 51% area of British India.
Land ownership right was retained with the ryots/peasants and it was hereditary and transferrable.
Land revenue rates were directly negotiated with the peasants and the revenue was collected by the British appointed officials and at some places by village elites like Poligars and Mirasidars.
For calculation and imposition of taxes, a comparative scientific method was adopted whereby land was surveyed and classified. Moreover, the total expense on growing crops was deducted before fixing the tax rates. After deducting the expenses, the revenue rate can't be fixed more than 50% but in practical more than 50% was extracted.
Like permanent settlement, here also Ryots were needed to pay the revenue on pre-decided date and time (Sunset Clause). Failing to do so may lead to snatching of land.
In the Ryotwari settlement, there was provision of relief to the peasant during any natural calamity but in practical peasants were not given any relief.
Contrary to the Permanent Settlement, in Ryotwari Settlement revenue rates were to be revised after an interval of 30 years.
Reasons for implementing Ryotwari Settlement
- To generate more revenue.
- Keeping in mind that in Permanent settlement there was no provision of revision of tax rates, the Ryotwari settlement came with the provision of revision after 30 years.
- As per the Utilitarian thought, land ownership right was given to (retained with) the Ryots. So, that they can invest on the fertility of the land.
- To feed the industries of Britain and make India a market of raw material supplier.
Impact/Outcome of Ryotwari Settlement
- Though it served the objectives of British authority but it also led to the increase in administrative expense.
- It also led to marginalisation and exploitation of peasants. Due to sunset clause and no actual relief given by the Britishers in case of crop failure, Peasants had to mortgage their land to the moneylenders which further led to many of them getting trapped in the vicious cycle of debt (debt trap).
- It did not eliminated village elites who gradually positioned themselves comfortably in sub-ordinate ranks of revenue establishment and some of them brought lucrative and large tract of irrigated land after their official appointment.
- Enhancement of power of elites resulted in cohesion, bribery and corruption by the sub-ordinate officials which led to the appointment of Madras torture commission which in 1855 indicated the need of dire reform in Ryotwari Settlement and also it indicated for scientific survey of land and fresh assessment of revenue.
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