MAINTENANCE OF LAND RECORDS
Measuring land and keeping land records is the main work of the Patwari. The Patwari is known by different names in different states - in some villages, such officers are called Lekhpal, in others Kanungo or Karamchari or Village Officer, etc. We will refer to this officer as Patwari. Each Patwari is responsible for a group of villages. The Patwari maintains and updates the records of the village.
The map and the corresponding details from the register are a small part of the records kept by the Patwari.
The Patwari usually has ways of measuring agricultural fields. In some places, a long chain is used. In the above instance, the Patwari would have measured both Mohan's and Raghu's fields and compared them with the measurements on the map. If they did not match, then it would be clear that the boundary of the fields has been changed.
The Patwari is also responsible for organising the collection of land revenue from the farmers and providing information to the government about the crops grown in this area. This is done from the records that are kept, and this is why it's important for the Patwari to regularly update these. Farmers may change the crops grown on their fields or someone may dig a well somewhere.
You saw that Mohan and Raghu were arguing heatedly whether the common boundary of their fields had been shifted. Isn't there a way by which they could have settled this dispute in a peaceful manner? Are there records that show who owns what land in the village? Let's find out how this is done.
The Khasra record of the Patwari gives you information regarding the map given below. It identifies which plot of land is owned by whom. Look at both the records and the map and answer the questions given below regarding Mohan and Raghu's land.
a. Who owns the land south of Mohan's field?
b. Mark the common boundary between Mohan's and Raghu's lands.
c. Who can use field no 3?
d. What information can one get for field no 2 and field no 3?
Farmers often require a copy of their land's record together with a map, as shown in the previous illustration. They have a right to this information. They may have to pay a small fee for this.
However, this information is not easily made available and farmers sometimes have to face many problems to get it. In some states, records are now being computerised and also kept at the Panchayat office so that they are more easily available and regularly updated.
When do you think farmers may require a copy of this record? Study the following situations and identify the cases in which these records would be necessary and why.
* A farmer wants to buy a plot of land from another.
* A farmer wants to sell her produce to another.
* A farmer wants a loan from the bank to dig a well in her land.
* A farmer wants to purchase fertilizers for his field.
* A farmer wants to divide his property among his children.
Activity:
1. Find out the term used for the Patwari in your state.
2. If you live in a rural area find out:
3. How many villages do the Patwari of your area maintain land records of?
4. How do people in the village contact him/her?
Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK
SUPERVISION OF PATWARI WORKS
Keeping track of all the crops grown in this area, organising the collection of land revenue from the farmers is the work of the revenue department of the government. Senior people in this department supervise the Patwari's work.
All states in India are divided into districts. For managing matters relating to land, these districts are further sub-divided. These subdivisions of a district are known by different names such as tehsil, taluka, etc. At the head is the District Collector and under her are the revenue officers, also known as tehsildars. They have to hear disputes. They also supervise the work of the Patwaris and ensure that records are properly kept and land revenue is collected. They make sure that the farmers can easily obtain a copy of their record, students can obtain their caste certificates, etc. Tehsildar's office is where land disputes are also heard.
Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK