Describe the various type of land settlement in colonial india
Answers
There were following types of land settlements during colonial rule:
1. Permanent Settlement
It was introduced in Bengal and Bihar in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis. It had two special features
The zamindars and revenue collectors were converted into landlords. Their right of ownership was made hereditary and transferrable. On the other hand cultivators were reduced to low status of mere tenants.
The zamindars were to give 10/11th of the rental they derived from peasantry to the state, keeping only 1/11th for themselves.
The Permanent Settlement was later extended to Orrisa, northern districts of Madras and district of Varanasi.
2. Ryotwari settlement-
The cultivator was to be recognised as owner of his plot of land subject to the payment of land revenue. This settlement was not made permanent. It was revised periodically after 20 to 30 years when revenue demand was usually raised.
3. Mahalwari System-
It was a modified version of zamindari settlement, introduced in the Gangs valley, Northwest provinces, parts of central India and Punjab. The revenue settlement was to be made village by village or estate(mahal) by estate with landlords or heads of families who collectively claimed to be the landlords of the village or the estate.