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Economic policy of British
Agriculture – Land revenue policy
- Permanent settlements System or Zamindari System – Lord Cornwallis
- Ryotwari System – Sir Thomas Munroe
- Mahalwari System – Lord William Bentinck
Permanent Settlement or Zamindari System (1793):
- In 1765 Robert Clive introduced Annual Settlement system in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa region.
- In 1774 Lord Warren Hasting changed it as quinquennial (five yearly) but again he changed to 1(one) year.
- In 1793 Lord Cornwallis make it as decennial system, with the help of John shore, James grant in Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Varanasi of UP and Northern Karnataka.
- 19% of total area of British came under this permanent settlement system
- This system also called as Zamindari, Zagidari and Biswedari system.
Features
- Zamindars were recognized as owners of the land and they acted as an agent between British and cultivators.
- Amount of Revenue for Zamindar was fixed & would not rise at any circumstances.
- 10 / 11 of share goes to government and remaining share allotted for Zamindars.
- Zamindars grant patta and Ryots became tenants.
- Zamindars relieved from their judicial duty and revenue collection became their only duty.
Merits
- Waste lands & forest became cultivable lands.
- Zamindar became owners, they free from responsibilities and they are faith full to British.
- This system provides Fixed & stable income to British.
Demerits
- No land survey had taken so less fertile lands also had to pay same amount.
- No direct contact between British and cultivators.
- Peasants were treated as slaves by Zamindars.
- Many conflicts rose between Zamindars & Peasants in many regions.
- The Revenue fixed by British was high so many Zamindars became defaulters and later their lands confiscated by British.
- Rich Zamindars left to town & their agents extracted illegal taxes.
- Long run financial lose occur to British due to fixed amount.