Explain provisions and implicationsof permanent settlement
Answers
Answer:
Merits of Settlement:
1. The Government became free from the problem of fixation of revenue every year. The state secured a stable and fixed income from the people. In case the Zamindars did not pay the revenue, the loss was made good by selling a portion of the land of the Zamindars.
2. The Zamindars took great interest to increase the production of their lands. New areas of land were brought under cultivation and the Zamindars also introduced new methods of cultivation like use of manure, rotation of crops etc. The improvement of agriculture also influenced the country’s trade and commerce a lot. Because of the all-round development, the province of Bengal became the most wealthy and prosperous state.
5. It avoided the evils of periodical settlement which at long intervals produced harassment of cultivator, evasion, concealment of wealth, a tendency on the part of the peasants to leave the land uncultivated etc.
4. By making the Zamindars the owners of the land, the settlement created a class of loyal land lords who formed a stable element in the state. The permanent settlement secured the political support of the Zamindars of Bengal who stood loyal during the great mutiny of 1857.
5. The permanent settlement saved the peasants from the oppression of the Zamindars. In this settlement the revenue was fixed through patta agreement which saved the cultivators from the oppression of the landlords.
6. Lastly, the economic prosperity of Bengal helped the rise of art, literature and education of Bengal.