RURAL ADMINISTRATION

Source of notes:  EduRev: https://edurev.in/courses/2611_Class-6-Social-Science

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EXAM

GUJARAT

What is Rural Administration?

India is a vast country with a vast land area.

There are more than six lakh villages in India.

It does not provide basic necessities like water, electricity and roads to all these villages.

To keep villages on track, it is necessary to maintain law and order in villages and keep a record of its land and revenue.

This is the task of rural administration.

Rural administration is how villages are managed and organized by the government to keep things running smoothly. It helps with:

1. Law and Order: The local police make sure everyone follows the rules and solves problems between people.

2. Land Management: Officers called Patwaris keep track of who owns which piece of land and collect taxes.

3. Village Government: The Gram Panchayat takes care of things like clean water, roads, and schools.

4. Development Programs: The government makes sure villages get the help they need for farming, health, and building important facilities.

It includes the management of water, electricity, road linkages, land records, theft, accidents, injuries, conflicts, land revenue collection, and caste certificates.

Area of the Police Station

In case of a dispute, in an area people, go to the police station.

A particular police station works for a particular area and all people living in that area.

 All persons of a particular area can register complaints in their local police station.

* The complaints can vary from theft, injury, fight or accident.

The work at the Police Station

The report lodged is known as First Information Report (F.I.R.).

The Station House Officer (S.H.O.) is in charge of every police station.

To get a case registered, one has to report in writing at the police station.

Then, the police officials examine the case and take action as per the law.

In rural areas, disputes occur over land very often.

Who is Patwari?

A Patwari is a government official in rural areas of India who is responsible for maintaining land records, collecting taxes, and other duties

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.

Duties of Patwari

The village Patwari keeps a record of the land areas kept by people.

A Patwari deals with measuring land and maintaining the land records belonging to different villages.

The village Patwari is also responsible for the collection of land revenue from the village.

The village Patwri is also responsible for providing information to the government about the crops grown in the area. 

They also make report on crop conditions and the financial situations of the cultivators. 

The Patwari is assisted by other revenue officers.

The Patwari's Khasra record provides information about land ownership.

The work of Patwari is supervised by Tehsildar.

A Khasra record is a document that provides details about a piece of land, including who owns it, how it's used, and what's on it.

Management of Land of Village

All states in India are divided into districts.

These districts are further sub-divided known by different names such as tehsil, taluka, etc.

At the head is the District Collector and under him are the revenue officers, also known as tehsildars.

The revenue officers or tehsildars come under the district collector.

Duties of Tehsildar

A tehsildar is a revenue officer in India who is responsible for land revenue collection and administration in a tehsil

• Collects land taxes and other payments.
• Keeps records of land and property.
• Supervises village officers called Patwaris regarding collection of land revenue.
• Gives important documents like domicile certificates, caste certificates, income certificates etc.
• They also perform administrative tasks like providing farmers with copies of their land records and hearing land disputes.

• Works with police to maintain law and order.
• Helps during elections by managing voter lists.
• Organizes help during floods or droughts.
• Makes sure government programs are working properly.

A New Law: Hindu Succession Amendment Act (2005)

The Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005 was introduced to give Hindu women equal rights to agricultural land.

It was a reaction against the gender discrimination in The Hindu Succession Act 1956. 

Women were not entitled to a share of the family's agricultural land in some states.

This law did not recognize daughters as coparceners (joint heirs) in the family property. Sons automatically inherited ancestral property, but daughters were not given the same rights.

The new law, Hindu Succession Amendment Act, grants equal shares to sons, daughters, and mothers in Hindu families.

This law applies to all states and union territories in the country.

The amendment aims to benefit a large number of women who were previously excluded from owning agricultural land.

The example of Sudha, the eldest daughter of an agricultural family, illustrates how the new law has empowered women. Sudha's mother has requested the transfer of land ownership to include all the children's names, including Sudha's. Sudha's mother confidently manages the farming with the help of her younger brother and sister. Sudha also feels secure knowing that she has a share of the land, which she can rely on if she ever encounters any difficulties.

1. District:

• A district is a larger administrative division that can encompass multiple towns, cities, and villages.
• It is governed by a district administration, which handles the governance of the entire district area.
• A district typically has a headquarter city or town, but it includes other smaller areas as well.
• Example: Mehsana District includes Mehsana city and other towns like Unjha, Visnagar, and various villages.

2. City:

• A city is a specific urban area within a district.
• It has its own local governance, such as a municipal corporation or municipal council, that manages the city's infrastructure and services.
• A city is usually more densely populated and developed compared to rural areas in the district.
• Example: Mehsana City is the administrative centre of Mehsana District but is just one part of the larger district.

QUESTION ANSWERS

1. What is the work of the police?

Ans: Work of the Police:

To maintain law and order in its area.

To register cases of thefts, accidents, injuries, fights etc.

To inquire, investigate, and take action on the cases within its area.

 2. List two things that the work of a Patwari includes.

Ans:

Patwari measures land and keeps land records.

He organises the collection of land revenue from the farmers and provides information to the government about the crops grown in the area.

3. What is the work of a Tehsildar?

Ans: Work of a Tehsildar:

• To supervise the work of Patwaris.
• To settle disputes regarding land.
• To get revenue collected.

4. What issue is the poem trying to raise? Do you think this is an important issue? Why?

Ans: The poem raises the issue of rights for a girl child. A girl should be treated equally in society. She should be given the same right as a male child is given. Inheritance in the paternal properties should be equally divided among all the members without any consideration of boy or girl. Dowry is not compensated to a girl child. It should be abolished. This poem raises a very justified issue.

5. In what ways are the work of the Panchayat, that you read about in the previous chapter, and the work of the Patwari related to each other?

Land Disputes:

Patwari: Keeps records of land ownership and boundaries.

Panchayat: Helps solve land disputes using the Patwari’s records.

Land Revenue:

Patwari: Collects land taxes based on records.

Panchayat: Supports smooth collection and helps if farmers face issues.

Development Projects:

Patwari: Shares information about land availability and owners.

Panchayat: Uses this information to plan schools, roads, and other projects.

Crop Information:

Patwari: Tracks crops grown and reports losses to the government.

Panchayat: Uses this data to arrange help for farmers, like relief funds or seeds.

Government Schemes:

Patwari: Identifies eligible farmers based on land records.

Panchayat: Spreads awareness and ensures benefits reach the villagers.