Question

What is ryotwari settlement?

Answer 1

Ryotwari system', instituted in some parts of India, was one of the main systems used to collect revenues directly from the cultivators of agricultural land. These revenues included undifferentiated land taxes and rents, collected simultaneously. This system of assessment was known as Ryotwari.

Answer 2

Ryotwari Settlement

The Ryotwari Settlement was introduced mainly in Madras, Berar, Bombay and Assam. Sir Thomas Munro introduced this system in the Madras Presidency. Under this settlement, the peasant was recognised as the proprietor of the land. There was no intermediary like a zamindar between the peasant and the government. So long as revenue was paid on time, the peasant was not evicted from the land. Besides, the land revenue was fixed for a period from 20 to 40 years at a time. During this period the peasant was held personally responsible for direct payment of land revenue to the government. However, in the end, this system also failed. Under this settlement it was certainly not possible to collect revenue in a systematic manner. The revenue officials indulged in harsh measures for non-payment or delayed payment.