(b) Employment Situation
Employment has
been the major objective of planning. Full utilization of available men-power
resources can be achieved after considerable period of development. However,
expansion of employment opportunities, commensurate with the increase in the
labour force over the plan period, is conceived as an important objective of
planning.
The development
situation in the Sangrur District is in accordance with the general pattern in
the State. The number of unemployed persons registered with the Employment
Exchange, Sangrur, has been on the increase.
The inhabitants
of the district are primarily engaged in agricultural activities which,
however, provide employment for about 6 months in a year. On 31 March 1978
there were 25,949 workers employed in the district as compared to 24,619 in the
previous year. The employment increased by 5.4 per cent. With March 1974 as
base =100, the index number was 115.8 as on 30 June 1977 which further rose to
120.8 on 31 March 1978. There were 3,868 women workers in the district on 31
March 1978 as against 3,738 in the previous year, showing an increase of 3.5
per cent.
The number of
persons waiting for employment in the district as on 31 March 1977 was 17,330,
which rose to 18,383 on 31 March 1978. Thus, there has been an increase of 6
per cent over the last year’s level of unemployment. A total of 14,828 persons
got themselves registered with the employment exchange at Sangrur and Malerkotla
during the year 1977-78. In the Sangrur District, unskilled labour, B.ed. and
physical training teachers, typists, etc. are in surplus. On the other hand,
there is a short-age of dyeing and printing instructors, revenue clerks,
machine men (Press), calico-printing, technicians/instructors.
Employment Exchanges. – There are
three employment exchanges in the district, one each at Sangrur, Malerkotla and
Barnala. The District Employment Exchanges, Sangrur, was established on 31
September 1959. The Town Employment Exchange, Malerkotla, was opened in October
1972 whereas the Town Employment Exchange, Barnala has been established, w.e.f.
1 February 1979.
The main function
of an Employment Exchange are: to register applicants and to provide employment
assistance, to impart vocational guidance to the youth and adults to choose a
better career; to elicit employment market information to assess the employment
trends, impact of Government plans on the Employment situations; and to collect
employment statistics for the Planning Commission of India.
The number of
employees working in private and public sectors, as on 31 March 1978, was
27,949, whereas on 31 March 1977, their number was 24,619. Thus there has been
an increase of 5.4 per cent over the last year’s level of employment.
The work done by
the District Employment Exchanges, Sangrur and Malerkotla, has been shown in
appendices III and IV at the end of this Chapter on pages 244 and 245.
The number of
unemployed persons aged 15 and above by sex and educational level, both in the
urban and rural areas of the district, as per 1961 Census, is given below:
Unemployed in the Urban areas by sex and educational levels
Total
unemployed
|
|||
|
|
Persons
|
Males
|
Females
|
|
Total
|
1,253 |
1,235 |
18 |
|
Illiterate
|
249 |
246 |
3 |
|
Literate
(without educational level) |
204
|
204 |
--- |
|
Primary
or Junior Basic |
345 |
345 |
--- |
|
Matriculation
of Higher Secondary |
402 |
398 |
4 |
|
Technical
diploma not equal to Degree |
8 |
4 |
4 |
|
Non-Technical
Diploma not equal to Degree |
11 |
9 |
2 |
|
University
Degree or Post-Graduate Degree other than Technical Degree |
30 |
26 |
4 |
|
Technical
Degree or Diploma equal to Degree or Post-Graduate Degree |
4 |
3 |
1 |
|
(i)
Engineering |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
(ii)
Medicine |
--- |
-- |
--- |
|
(iii)
Agriculture |
--- |
---. |
--- |
|
(iv)
Veterinary and Dairying |
-- |
-- |
--- |
|
(v)
Technology |
-- |
--- |
--- |
|
(vi)
Teachings |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
(vii)
Others |
1 |
1 |
-- |
Unemployment in the rural areas by sex and educational levels
Total
unemployed
|
|||
|
|
Persons
|
Males
|
Females
|
|
Total
|
1,363 |
1,328 |
35 |
|
Illiterate
|
375 |
353 |
22 |
|
Literate
(without educational level) |
165 |
164 |
1 |
|
Primary
or Junior Basic |
260 |
257 |
3 |
|
Matriculation
and above |
563 |
554 |
9 |
(Census of India,
1961, Punjab District Census Handbook No. 17, Sangrur District pp. 208-209)
Employment Market Information Scheme. – The aim of
this scheme it to watch the trends of employment in the state so as to make
available to the Government and to the Planning Commission information about
the periodical situation of employment in various industries and occupation in
each district and in the state as a whole. The information thus collected is
also used for determining the location of industrial training institutes and
the trades to be taught therein.
This scheme was
introduced in the State in 1957-58, and is operated under the Director of
Employment, Punjab, Chandigarh. Initially, it covered only the public sector,
but since 1960-61, it has been extended to the private sector as well.
Under
the scheme, the employment exchange is responsible for collecting regular
information about the employment situation in private sector as well as in the
public sector. This is done by what is known as “Establishment Reporting
System”. Under this scheme, all establishments in the public sector and
selected establishments in the private sector engaged in non-agricultural
activities are asked to give details regularly about the number of persons they
are employing, the vacancies that have occurred and the type of persons they
find to be in short supply. The information is collected from all establishments
in the public sector and those employing 25 or more persons in the private
sector under the provisions of the Employment Exchange (Compulsory Notification
of Vacancies) Act, 1959, which makes it obligatory on them to submit it to the
local employment exchange. Information from smaller establishments in the
private sector is, however, collected on voluntary basis.
The
information which is processed at the district level is finally tabulated at the
State and national level to know precisely the employment potential at these
levels. An Employment Market Unit in the Employment Exchange, Sangrur, has been
functioning since 1953. The following table clearly shows the changes in the
volume of employment both in the private and public sectors in the district, as
on 31 March 1977 and on 31 March 1978
|
|
Number
of establishments |
Number
of employees |
||
|
Industrial
Division |
31 March 1977 |
31 March 1978 |
31 March 1977 |
31 March 1978 |
|
1
Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fishing, mining and quarrying |
5 |
5 |
458 |
461 |
|
2
Manufacturing |
105 |
105 |
1,778 |
2,233 |
|
3
Water supply, construction of roads and houses and canal water resources. |
46 |
47 |
2,649 |
2,858` |
|
4
Electricity |
14 |
17 |
977 |
1,162 |
|
5
Trade and commerce |
8 |
7 |
107 |
102 |
|
6
Transport, communication and storage |
24 |
25
|
1,939 |
2,113 |
|
7
Banking & insurance |
46 |
45 |
844 |
942 |
|
8
Public service |
255 |
274 |
15,867 |
16,078 |
|
Total |
503 |
525 |
24,619 |
25,949 |
Report of the District Employment
Officer, Sangrur, for the year ending 31 March 1978.
Vocational Guidance Scheme. – The
vocational guidance and employment counseling programmes are designed to give
intensive vocational guidance to those who seek such assistance. The term
‘vocational guidance; more appropriately connotes assistance to the youth,
whereas ‘employment counselling’ refers to the assistance given to adults.
The programme is
jointly operated by the Directorate General of Employment and Training, Union
Ministry of Labour and Employment, and Directorate of Employment in the State.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Director of Employment
Exchanges, is responsible for the general policies and procedure which are
devised in the Group of the Employment Service. The State Directorate of
Employment administers the service through the employment exchanges and
co-ordinate with the guidance service of the Education Department of the State
Government.
The
Officer-in-charge of the Employment Exchange, Sangrur, is responsible for the
efficient working the general supervision of this scheme in the district. The
functions of a Vocational Guidance Unit are: to provide vocational guidance and
employment counselling to youth (boys and girls) and adults (men and women) in
groups as well as individually; to assist in the placement of youth in
institutions or training centers or in entry jobs; follow up and review the
progress of guided youth the adults; to review the records of applicants on the
live register and to give them such guidanceas would lead to their early and
suitable placement; to assist other sections of the exchange in improving the
quality or registrations and submission, and also to assist the exchanges in
the collection and compilation of uptodate information occupations, training
facilities, educational courses, employment trends and employment outlook for
youth and adults, available scholarships and source of financial assistance.
Its other functions include maintenance of regular information for the use of
applicants and visitors seeking information; maintenance of uptodate library on
occupation literate; and educate the public by under-taking publicity measures
in vocational guidance principles with a view to encouraging community
consciousness. The guidance procedure at an employment exchange, with a
vocational guidance unit, consists of group guidance comprising invitational
talks, group discussions and invitational talk-cum group discussions according
to the needs of the groups; individual guidance; and giving information
individually.
Started in July
1964 at Sangrur, the vocational guidance unit is doing useful work in the
district. It has been steadily disseminating occupational information and
vocational guidance to the deserving cases especially to the young student
community. Efforts have been made to carry the facilities to al corners of the
district through career talks in educational institutions. Career conferences
are organized to make people conscious of the olive need for the proper
planning of careers.
The following
tables shows the work done by the Vocational Guidance Unit at Sangrur, During
1973-74 to 1977-78:
|
|
Number of Individuals Provided
|
||
|
Year
|
Group
Guidance talks |
Individual
guidance cases |
Individual
information |
|
1973-74 |
… |
73 |
950 |
|
1974-75 |
209 |
372 |
506 |
|
1975-76 |
227 |
390 |
601 |
|
1976-77 |
280 |
301 |
410 |
|
1977-78 |
191 |
194 |
223 |
(Source District Employment Office, Sangrur)
(c) Planning
and Rural Development
After
the Independence of country (1947) the Government of India undertook planned
development on the country-wide scale with view to checking the economic
deterioration effectively. The Planning Department of the Government of India
was entrusted with the task of formulating Five-Year Plans. In view of the
pressing food problems created by the partition of the country, due emphasis
was laid on the improvements and development of all sectors of economy,
especially agriculture, in the First Five-Year Plan (1951-56). It resulted in
the increase of production of various agricultural commodities. With the
introduction of modern agricultural implements and fertilizers, agriculture has
been revolutionized in the district. In the later plans from the Second to the
Fifth Five Year Plan, stress was laid on the development of industries. The
Sangrur District has also benefited by these plans in respect of industrial
advancement. Malerkotla and Barnala in the Sangrur District are gradually
rising as industrial centers.
Rural
Development. – For
the development of rural areas, the Community Development Programme originated
on the recommendations of the Planning Commission. However, with effect from 1979,
the Community Development Programme has been given a more appropriate
nomenclature ‘Rural Development Programme’ and as such the Community
Development Department of the State has been renamed as Rural Development
Department. Its main object is to secure the fullest development of material
and human resources of the particular area. The Programme stands for the
development of agriculture, animal husbandry, minor irrigation, cottage
industries, education, employment, co-operation, communications, housing and
social welfare. The entire district has been brought under the Rural
Development Programme. There are 10 Blocks, viz., Sangrur, Bhawanigarh,
Barnala, Sehna, Mahal Kalan, Malerkotla Ahmedgarh, Dhuri, Sunam, and Lehragaga
in the district. The people in the district have extended full co-operation and
have liberally made contributions towards the programme. The agriculturists
have been greatly benefited by the programme as they have been considerably
enlightened about the latest methods of improved cultivation and agricultural
practices. Besides, it has imbibed the sprit of self-help and self-reliance
amongst ruralities.
The
rural development Programme has been effective in the development of various
fields like agriculture, animal husbandry, irrigation, village and small-scale
industries, health and rural sanitation, social education and communications.
As on 31 March 1978, 718 inhabited village in the district had been covered
under the programme. As per 1981 Census, out of the total population of the
district numbering 14,05,320, the programme served a population of 10,83,727.
APPENDIX I
Sample Household Classification by the number of members
and by the number of rooms occupied in Sangrur District, 1971
|
Total/rural/
Urban |
Total
number of census households |
Total number of members |
Total
number of rooms |
Households
with one room |
Households with two rooms
|
|||||
|
Males
|
Females
|
Number
of House holds |
Number
of Members
|
Number
of households |
Number of members |
|||||
|
Males
|
Females
|
Males
|
Females
|
|||||||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
|
Total
|
187,620 |
631,250 |
529,180 |
404,455 |
55,200 |
204,040 |
167,285 |
50810 |
206,480 |
173,025 |
|
Rural |
147,265 |
507,875 |
421,715 |
314,480 |
57,905 |
165735 |
136,180 |
47,510 |
165,290 |
136,745 |
|
Urban |
40,355 |
123,375 |
107,465 |
89,975 |
15,295 |
38,305 |
31,105 |
13,300 |
41,190 |
36,280 |
|
Total/ Rural/ Urban |
Households with three
rooms |
Households with four
rooms |
Households
with five rooms and above |
Households
with unspecified number of rooms |
Number
of house-holds with details unspecifi-ed |
|||||||||
|
Number of house-holds |
Number
of members
|
Number of House-holds |
Number
of members
|
Number of house-holds |
Number
of members
|
Number of house-holds |
Number
of members
|
|||||||
|
Males |
Females |
Males |
Females |
Males |
Females |
Males |
Females |
|||||||
|
1 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
|
|
Total |
29,040 |
11,565 |
94,920 |
13,550 |
56,435 |
48,665 |
11,005 |
52,695 |
45,285 |
15 |
35 |
… |
… |
|
|
Rural |
23,295 |
91,795 |
76,555 |
10,475 |
44,885 |
38,175 |
8,075 |
40,165 |
36,060 |
5 |
5 |
… |
… |
|
|
Urban |
5,745 |
19,770 |
18,365 |
3,075 |
11,550 |
10,490 |
2,930 |
12,530 |
11,225 |
10 |
30 |
… |
… |
|
(Census of India 1971,
series 17, Punjab, part IV, Housing Report & Tables, pp 106-107)
APPENDIX II
Wages rates of different
types of labourers/workers (in Government employment) per day/month fixed in
the Sangrur District during 1977-78
|
|
|
Rates of pay |
|
|
Serial No. |
Category of laborers/ workers |
Per day (Rs) |
Per month (Rs) |
|
1 |
Kahar/Water carrier |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
2 |
Dak munshi |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
3 |
Mochi (Cobbler) |
8.50 |
240.00 |
|
4 |
Dak Runner |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
5 |
Dhobi |
4.50 |
240.00 |
|
6 |
Barber |
8.50 |
240.00 |
|
7 |
Syee |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
8 |
Head Cook |
8.50 |
240.00 |
|
9 |
Cook/Asstt. Cook |
8.50 |
240.00 |
|
10 |
Boatman/Ferryman |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
11 |
Packer |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
12 |
Cartman |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
13 |
Sweeper |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
14 |
Chowkidar |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
15 |
Mali |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
16 |
Garden Cooli |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
17 |
Khalasi or Surbey Khalasi |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
18 |
Cycle Sawar |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
19 |
Frash |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
20 |
Telephone Peon |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
21 |
Beldar adult |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
22 |
Tailor |
10.00 |
310.00 |
|
23 |
Khansama |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
24 |
Bottle cleaner |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
25 |
Liftman |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
26 |
Ex-Ray Cleaner |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
27 |
Misalchi |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
28 |
Dairy/Poultry Attendant |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
29 |
Pankha Cooli Adult |
8.50 |
205.00 |
|
30 |
Bearer Attendant to Circuit House |
8.00 |
190.00 |
|
31 |
Store Cooli/ Gang Man |
8.00 |
190.00 |
|
32 |
Flagman |
8.00 |
190.00 |
|
33 |
Caneman |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
34 |
Information Centre Attendant |
8.00 |
190.00 |
|
35 |
Baildar Boy/Girl |
7.00 |
165.00 |
|
36 |
Pankha Cooli (Boy and Girl) |
7.00 |
165.00 |
|
37 |
Delivery Man |
7.00 |
165.00 |
|
38 |
White-washer |
9.00 |
205.00 |
|
39 |
Painter (I Class) |
15.00 |
400.00 |
|
40 |
Painter (II Class) |
14.00 |
325.00 |
|
41 |
Skilled Labourer/Khalasi ‘Agri’ Labourer |
10.00 |
|
|
42 |
Agricultural Labour to disinfectants sprays |
10.00 |
|
|
43 |
Aya/Aaya |
8.00 |
|
|
44 |
Women Labourer |
8.50 |
|
|
45 |
Unskilled Labourer |
8.50 |
|
|
46 |
Mason/Carpenter/Blacksmith (1st Class) |
15.00 |
400.00 |
|
47 |
---Do--, IInd Class |
14.00 |
350.00 |
|
48 |
Driver (Heavy Vehicles) |
12.00 |
|
|
49 |
---Do— (Light Vehicles) |
10.00 |
|
|
50 |
Conductor |
10.00 |
|
|
51 |
Turner/Cane Weaver/ Fitter/Baildar |
9.00 |
|
|
52 |
Man with Mule |
15.00 |
|
|
53 |
Man with Camel |
15.00 |
|
|
54 |
Man with Bullocks |
15.00 |
|
|
55 |
Cartman with a pair of bullocks |
28.00 |
|
|
56 |
Ploughman with a pair of bullocks |
22.00 |
|
|
57 |
Labourer employed in supply polo installations |
8.00 |
|
|
58 |
Waterman with a pair of bullocks |
22.00 |
|
|
59 |
Casual skilled welder |
10.00 |
|
|
60 |
Semi-skilled Hammerman |
10.00 |
|
|
61 |
Plumber/Pipe Fitter |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
62 |
Sweeper-cum-Chowkidar/Cooli.Mate |
8.50 |
|
|
63 |
Head Cooli/Male, Head Mali, Head Surveymen/ Head Baildar, Khalasi, Head Dafadar, Lineman |
8.50 |
230.00 |
|
64 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1st Class) |
12.00 |
260.00 |
|
|
(2nd Class) |
|
|
|
65 |
Halwai |
15.00 |
300.00 |
|
66 |
Donkeyman with one Donkey |
12.00 |
|
|
67 |
Hand Carts per trip up to one mile for one qtl. |
3.00 |
|
|
68 |
Fisherman |
8.50 |
|
|
69 |
Artisan |
10.00 |
330.00 |
|
70 |
Cycle Mechanic |
10.00 |
300.00 |
(Source: Deputy
Commissioner, Sangrur)
AppendiX iii
Work
done by the District Employment Exchange, Sangrur, 1973-74 to 1977-78
|
Year |
Number of Registra-tion during the year |
Number of vacancies notified |
Number of applicants placed in employ-ment during the
year |
Number of applicants on live register at the end of the
year |
Monthly number of employees using the exchange |
Vacancies carried over at the end of the year |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
1973-74 |
11,004 |
2,294 |
3,964 |
3,264 |
13,697 |
785 |
|
1974-75 |
8,168 |
1,700 |
2,097 |
9,954 |
11,535 |
340 |
|
1975-76 |
9,941 |
1,264 |
2,254 |
20,966 |
20,579 |
380 |
|
1976-77 |
8,879 |
1,308 |
2,284 |
11,599 |
22,415 |
273 |
|
1977-78 |
10,959 |
1,028 |
2,035 |
12,451 |
17,853 |
340 |
AppendiX iv
Work done by the District Employment Exchange,
Malerkotla, District Sangrur, during 1973-74 to 1977-78
|
Year |
Number of Registra-tion during the year |
Number of vacancies notified |
Number of applicants placed in employ-ment during the
year |
Number of applicants on live register at the end of the
year |
Monthly number of employees using the exchange |
Vacancies carried over at the end of the year |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
1973-74 |
5,871 |
373 |
597 |
5,438 |
15 |
91 |
|
1974-75 |
3,339 |
320 |
611 |
4,552 |
14 |
114 |
|
1975-76 |
4,276 |
295 |
423 |
5,299 |
15 |
47 |
|
1976-77 |
3,100 |
195 |
377 |
5,731 |
7 |
21 |
|
1977-78 |
3,869 |
93 |
346 |
5,932 |
4 |
25 |
(Source: Assistant Employment
Officer, Malerkotla)
CHAPTER X
|
|
Contents |
|
Ø
|
|
|
Ø
|
|
|
Ø
|
|
|
Ø
|
|
|
Ø
|
|
|
Ø
|
(a) Historical Background and Division of the
District
The district as
an administrative unit has occupied, since the Mauryan times, a unique position
in a State. The term ‘general administration’ in so far as the district
concerned, refers to the management of public affairs within an area demarcated
as a district. The districts were organized, before independence, for
maintenance of peace, collection of land revenue, and administration of
justice. After independence, district administration functions in a democratic
set up with the objective of developing the hitherto backward areas to ensure
fruits of development to all citizens in the fair and equitable manner. While
the maintenance of peace, collection of land revenue, and administration of
justice, continue to be the important functions of district administration, it
has to work for the overall development of the district with special emphasis
on expansion and development of education, public health, sanitation and
communications.
Prior to
independence of the country in 1947, various parts of the present Sangrur
District with the exception of some territory then being part of the Ludhiana District[P1], were
administered by the erstwhile princely states of Jind, Patiala, Nabha and
Malerkotla. The Princely rulers (known as Rajas/Maharajahs in Patiala, Nabha,
and Jind States, and Nawabs in Malerkotla State) of these states had full
powers of independent jurisdiction in their respective State.
Transferred to
the Sangrur District from British Territory
|
Transferred
from |
Name of the Village |
Name of the Tahsil now
forming part of |
|
Ludhiana
District |
Sandour |
Malerkotla tahsil |
|
|
Manaki |
Ditto |
|
|
Bahadurgarh |
Ditto |
|
|
Jandali Kalan |
Ditto |
|
|
Bagrian |
Ditto |
|
|
Rurki Kalan |
Ditto |
|
|
Gajjan Majra |
Ditto |
These
princely states were divided into various nizamats and each nizamats
was further divided into a number of tahsils. Patiala State was divided into
there nizamats, two of which are now included in the Sangrur
District—Karmagarh or Bhawanigarh (Bhawanigarh and Sunam tahsils), and
Anahadgarh or Barnala (Barnala Tahsil) Tahsil Dhuri of Amargarh nizamat
was also included in this district. Jind State was divided into two
nizamats—Jind and Sangrur. Sangrur nizamat now forms part of the present
Sangrur District. (Jind nizamat is now in Jind District of Haryana
State). Each nizamat was under the administrative control of nazim who
had under him naib nazims and tahsildars. The system of administration in
princely state is described in the Punjab States Gazetteers, Vol. XVII –A,
phulkian State 1904 (Patiala, Jind and Nabha).
|
Transferred
from |
Name of the village |
Name of the Tahsil now
forming part of |
|
Ludhiana
District |
Jabbo Majra |
Malerkotla Tahsil |
|
|
Ladewala |
Ditto |
|
|
Rurki Khurd |
Ditto |
|
|
Dhero Majra |
Ditto |
|
|
Khiali |
Barnala Tahsil |
|
|
Sahaur |
Ditto |
|
|
Chak Rohi |
Ditto |
|
|
Channanwal |
Ditto |
|
|
Raisar Punjab |
Ditto |
|
|
Kaire |
Ditto |
|
|
Cheema |
Ditto |
|
|
Jodhpur |
Ditto |
|
|
Pakhoke |
Ditto |
|
|
Malian |
Ditto |
|
|
Bakhatgarh |
Ditto |
|
|
Bhotna |
Ditto |
|
|
Choong |
Ditto |
|
|
Badhata |
Ditto |
|
|
Sehna |
Ditto |
|
|
Burj Fatehgarh |
Ditto |
|
|
Patti Daraka |
Ditto |
|
Karnal
District |
Khadyal |
Sunam Tahsil |
Under the old
system of administration, the offices at the capital and immediately under the
ruler’s control were those of the diwan, adallti mit munshi or Foreign
Secretary, bakhshi or Pay Master and munsiff. The tahsildars
carried on the general administration of the tahsils or collectorates, and also
exercised some judicial functions. There were no written regulations, though,
in cases relating to religious matters, the State pandit or dharm
shartri was consulted. In the reign of Raja Sarup Singh, a few dastur-ul-amals
ware compiled, and in 1930 Sambat (A.D. 1873), Raja Raghbir Singh had codes for
every office (sarishta) and the karkhana or private office issued. There were
no State treasuries, all disbursements being made by a banker, who charged half
an ana per rupee as his remuneration, and the cash salaries were disbursed
twice a year, the State of officials receiving their daily allowance (rased)
in kind once a month. In 1933 Sambat (A.D. 1837), Raja Sarup Singh established
a regular treasury and constituted the two nizamats of Sangrur and Jind.
Under this system, appeals lay from the nazim to the adalt (Superior
Court) in criminal, to the munsif in civil and to the diwan in revenue
cases, and Raja Raghbir Singh after his accession in Sambat 1919 (A. D.1852)
greatly extended and systematized the working of these institutions. In Sambat
1931 (A.D. 1874), he established the ijlas-i-khas or royal tribunal in which al
important cases were heard and determined. Thus the nazims were empowered to
pass sentences of one year’s imprisonment and a fine of Rs 100, and the adalti
sentences of twice that period and amount. In civil cases, Tahsildars were
empowered to try suits in which the subject matter did not exceed Rs 10 in
value, the nazim’s jurisdiction being limited to Rs 100 and the sadr minsiff’s
competence on the reports of the Tahsildars, referring those not within their
cognizance to the diwan who in turn referred important was/were not the
subject(s) of the Raja of Jind were heard by the Foreign Minister. After the
death of Raja Raghbir Singh, a munsiff was appointed in each tahsil, but they
were removed by Raja Ranbir Singh and nazims were invested with munsiff’s
powers. Various reforms were made by Raja Ranbir Singh. Before his accession,
executive and judicial function were not separated, and he constituted the head
office or sadr-ala executive and sadr-ala high court; but these offices
were soon amalgamated, and on 20 February 1903, fused into one, designated the
sadr-ala simply. This office was composed of four officials (Ala ahlkars),
who acted collectively as well as individually. After the partition of the
country, Jind State was merged with PEPSU on 20 August 1948 and the last
Maharaja Rajbir Singh signed the papers for the merger on 5 May 1948. Consequently,
the area of the present Sangrur District became part of PEPSU. It then
comprised Sangrur, Sunam, Narwana and Jind tahsils. Barnala was an independent
district of PEPSU and comprised Barnala, Malerkotla, Dhrui and Phul tahsils.
The district underwent a territorial change when Barnala District was merged in
it in 1953. The Sangrur District then comprised 5 tahsils – Sangrur,
Malerkotla, Barnala, Jind and Narwana.
The district once
again saw a change when the Punjab State was reorganized on 1 November 1966.
Narwana and Jind tahsils were transferred to the newly created State of Haryana
and the district was left with 3 tahsils-sangrur, Barnala, and Malerkotla. The
fourth tahsil, viz. Sunam, formerly a sub-tahsil, was upgraded to a tahsil in
1970. The administrative set-up the Sangrur District as on 31 March 1978 is
described as under:
Administrative
Division. – The Sangrur District, for administrative purposes, has been
included in the Patiala division, Patiala. For purposes of general and revenue
administration, the district has been divided into four tahsils, viz.,
Malerkotla (including sub-tahsils Ahmedgarh and Dhuri), Barnala (including
sub-tahsils Tapa and Bhadaur), Sangrur (including sub-tahsils Bhawanigarh and
Longowal) and Sunam (including sub-tahsils Lehragaga and Moonak). All these
tahsils are now subdivisions. Malerkotla was made a subdivision of the then
Barnala District on 1 September 1948, Barnala on 1 September 1953, Sangrur on
15 June 1965 and Sunam on 1 April 1970.
The
administrative machinery of the district consists of a hierarchy of officers
and officials headed by the Deputy Commissioner also known as District
magistrate as head of criminal administration of the district and as District
Collector, as head of the revenue administration in the district. The number of
Sub-Divisional Officers, Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars posted in the district
as on 31 March 1978, is given in the following table:
|
Subdivision
|
Number of Posts |
||
|
|
S.D.O. (C) |
Tahsildar |
Naib-Tahsildar |
|
Malerkotla
|
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
Barnala
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Sangrur |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Sunam
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
District Sangrur |
4 |
4 |
10 |
The district is
the basic unit of administration. The Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, as head of
the district administration, is a functionary of the State Government, under
the administrative control of Divisional Commissioner, Patiala. He has wide
powers and manifold responsibilities. In many ways he is chief custodian of law
and authority, the pivot on which runs the local administration.
The main
functions of the Deputy Commissioner may be broadly categorized as:
co-ordination of development and public welfare activities as Deputy
commissioner, revenue officer/Court of the district as District Collector, and
law and order functions as District Magistrate. Thus, he acts as Deputy
Commissioner, District Collector and District Magistrate on different
occasions. His role in each of these capacity is described, in brief, as under:
(i) As Deputy Commissioner. – He is the
executive of the district with numerous responsibilities in the sphere of civil
administration, development, panchayats, local bodies, etc. due to immense
importance of his office, the Deputy Commissioner is considered to be the
measuring rod of efficiency in administration.
The Deputy
Commissioner has an Office Superintendent under him, to supervise the work of
the clerical staff. He guides functioning of different branches of his office.
Each branch is headed by an Assistant and is functionally known after him. For
example, the branch looked after by Establishment Assistant (EA) is known as
the EA Branch, the one under Miscellaneous Assistant is known as the MA Branch,
etc. An Assistant has to perform two types of functions-supervisory and
dispositive i.e. he has to supervise the work of the officials working under
him, and also do dispose of many cases either at his level or by putting them
up to his senior officers. An Assistant has one or more Clerks under him.
The number of
branches in the office of the Deputy Commissioner differs from district to
district depending upon the requirements in each case, but more important
branches existing in almost all the districts are, Establishment Branch, Nazarat Branch, Sadr Kanungo
Branch, Development Branch, Miscellaneous Branch, Licensing Branch, Complaints
and Enquiries Branch, Local Funds Branch, District Revenue Accounts Branch,
Flood Relief Branch, Revenue Records branch, Records and Issue branch, Sadr
Copying Agency, Registration Branch, Peshi Branch, etc.
(ii) As District Collector. – The Deputy
Commissioner is the highest Officer of revenue administration in the district.
In revenue matters, he is responsible to the Government through the Divisional
Commissioner and the Financial Commissioner, Revenue. He is responsible for the
Collections of land revenue, other kinds of Government taxes, fees and all dues
recoverable as arrears of land revenue. He is responsible for ensuring the
maintenance of accurate and uptodate record of right as regards the land.
He is also the
appointing authority for Patwari and Kanungos and ministerial staff posted in
the tahsil offices, and in the offices of sub Divisions Officers (Civil) and
Deputy Commissioner except in the case of Superintendent of Deputy
Commissioner’s Office and for most of the subordinate revenue staff in the
district. As the District Collector, he is the highest revenue judicial
authority in the district.
(iii) As District Magistrate. – The Deputy
Commissioner is responsible for the maintenance of law and order in the
district. He is the head of criminal administration and supervises all
Executive Magistrates in the district and controls and directs the actions of
the police. He has supervisory powers over the administration of jails and
lock-ups in the district.
Besides his above
mentioned duties as Deputy Commissioner, District Collector, and District
Magistrate, the plays an important role as Deputy Custodian, under the
Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act, 1954. In this capacity
his duties are: revision against the orders of Tahsildars and
Officers-in-Charge, Rural, regarding allotment of land and houses in rural
areas; revision against the orders of the District Rent Officer, regarding
allotment of houses and shops in urban areas and disposal of cases received
from the Assistant Custodian (Judicial) regarding evacuee property.
The position of
Deputy commissioner as head of the district administration has become one of
expanding responsibilities. As he is the executive head of the civil
administration, all departments in the district, which otherwise have their own
officers, look to him for guidance and co-ordination. He plays an important
role in the administration of municipal committees, market committees,
panchayats, panchayat samitis, community development blocks and the zila
parishad, which came into existence with decentralization of authority and
expansion of the Pancyayati Raj. He is also responsible for the execution of
rural development schemes. Besides, he is responsible, as District Election
Officer, for the peaceful and orderly conduct of all elections held in the
district from time to time. For elections to Lok Sabha constituency/constituencies
of his district, he functions as Returning Officer he renders active help
decennial Census. He controls and regulates and distribution of scarce
essential commodities, etc. He keeps liaison with military authorities in his
jurisdiction and is the Competent Authority for requisition of land for
military purposes. In any matter of public importance which does not fall
specifically in the sphere of any government department, state or Central, he,
as a general administrator, is required to take cognizance of the matter in
public interest and take it to its logical conclusion with the help of some
government department or by processing the matter in the his own office. In
short, there is nothing of importance which takes place in the district with
which is not associated, directly or indirectly.
Subdivisional Officers (Civil)
The Subdivisional
Officer (Civil) is a miniature Deputy commissioner in his subdivision. In fact,
under many revenue legislations, he is invariably vested with powers of
Collector, to be exercised within his jurisdiction. He also hears appeals as
Collector of the subdivision, against the orders of Assistant Collectors, Grade
II (Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars) and Assistant Collector, Grade I
(Tahsildars in partition cases). He is either a junior member of the Indian
Administrative Service or a senior member of the State Civil Service, who has
earned extensive experience in subordinate positions. He exercises direct
control over the Tahsildars and his staff in the subdivision. He is the normal
channel of correspondence between the Deputy Commissioner and the Tahsildar in
his subdivision.
The powers and
responsibility of the Sub Divisional Officer relating to revenue, magisterial,
executive and development matters within his jurisdiction, are analogous to
those of the Deputy Commissioner. His revenue duties include supervision and
inspection of all matters from assessment to collection of land revenue;
co-ordinate of work of all officials in the subdivision, particularly in the
departments of revenue, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Public Health within
the subdivision.
His magisterial
duties are: liaison and co-ordination with police in the subdivision; watch
over the relations between various communities and classes; special precautions
and actions in emergency, especially connected with festivals; and
recommendations to the District Magistrate, when he is himself not competent,
for grant of arms licences. He has ample power under the Criminal Procedure
Code. Punjab Police Rules, and other laws to exercise effective supervision
over the law and order situation in his area.
In his executive
capacity, he can for any of the records and registers which deal crime, from a
Police Station and can call the Station House Officer of Police Station to come
to him to explain the matters. He can bind down anti-social elements for
peaceful conduct over a period. He commands closer contact with the public and
more intimate association with the local bodies and market committees.
He also plays an
important role in the rural development programmes. He needs co-operation and
help from other government officials in the subdivision for the smooth running
of administration and successful implementation of development schemes. On
important policy matters, however, he is required to route the matters through
the deputy Commissioner.
For the elections
to the Vidhan Sabha, he is generally appointed as Returning Officer for the
constituency/constituencies in his jurisdiction. For elections to the Lok Sabha
constituencies, he is generally appointed as Assistant Returning Officer.
Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars
The officer
incharge of a tahsil is called Tahsildar. However, there is no substantial
difference in the revenue and magisterial duties of the Tahsildar and a
Naib-Tahsildar. In revenue matters, both exercise the powers of Assistant
Collector, Grade II, in their circle as Circle Revenue Officers. Tahsildars and
Naib Tahsildars are appointed as ex officio Executive Magistrates in the
district of their posting provided they have passed the respective prescribed
Departmental Examinations in Criminal Law Paper by the Lower Standard as well
as in the Language Paper. However, a Tahsildar is vested with powers of
Assistant Collector, Grade I, with regard to the partition cases, which power
he exercises in whole of tahsil; the Naib-Tahsildars are not vested with this
power. Also, as senior Revenue Officer of the Tahsil and as overall incharge
thereof, a Tahsildar has powers of co-ordination and distribution of work among
Circle Revenue Officers, the Naib-Tahsildars and himself. He is a Class II
gazetted officer of the State Government which a Naib-Tahsildar is not. In this
regard, a Tahsildar is competent to make and issue certificates as a gazetted officer.
All recommendations in lambardari cases, even in the revenue circles of
Naib-Tahsildar, are routed through him to Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) and to
the Deputy Commissioner.
For elections to
the Vidhan Sabha, a Tahsildar is, invariably be appointed as Assistant
Returning Officer for the constituency/constituencies falling in his tahsil.
The Tahsildars
and Naib-Tahsildars are responsible for collection of land revenue and other
dues payable to the Government. To remain in touch with the subordinate revenue
staff, to observe the seasonal conditions and condition of crops, to listen to
the difficulties of the cultivators and to distribute the taccavi loans,
the Tahsildar and Naib-Tahsildar extensively tour the areas in their
jurisdiction. They decide urgent matters on the spot, like correction of
entries in the account books, providing relief to the people faced with natural
calamities, etc. on their return from tour, they prepare reports and recommend
to the Government remission or suspension of land revenue and bring the records
uptodate. They also sit in the courts of land revenue and bring the records
uptodate. They also sit in the courts to settle disputes of tenancy, arrears of
rent ejectment of tenants, entries in account books, etc. besides doing other
kind of work.
In the
performance of their above functions, the Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars in
Sangrur District are assisted by a Sadr Kanungo, who is incharge of
revenue records at the district headquarters, 4 Office Kanungos (one at each tahsil
headquarters, 4 Assistant Office Kanungos, 18 Field Kanungos (tahsil wise 3 in
Sangrur, 6 in Malerkotla, 5 in Barnala and 4 in Sunam), 3 Peshi Kanungos and
316 Patwaris.
Kanungos. – The duties of a Kanungo are
to superwise the work of the patwaris. He is an important like between the Tahsildar/Naib Tahsildar and
the Patwari. Each Tahsildar is assisted by an Office Kanungo, be sides a number
of field Kanungos. In Sangrur District, an Assistant Office Kanungo is also
attached to each Tahsildar. The main duty of an Office Kanungo is to
consolidate the information on different aspects of revenue administration.
Similarly, in the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, there is a Sadr Kanungo
who inter-alia is incharge of Patwaris’ and Kanungos’s establishments and
carries out inspections of Patwar Circles and Kanungos Circles.
Special Kanungo
or Patwari Moharrir makes the information contained in revenue records,
accessible to the litigating public and to the courts, by preparing extracts
from the revenue records. Special Kanungo assists the courts of law in the
examination of revenue records by giving evidence and by putting the records
before the court and by drawing attention to those parts of the records which
the court ought to examine.
Patwaris. – Whereas, the Deputy
Commissioner is regarded as the pivot of the district administration, the
patwari is the representative of Government at the village level. Upto 1906, he
was paid by the village itself, but now he is salaried Government employee. He
has usually one or two villages in his charge. His local knowledge is so
extensive that there is hardly any information about the village and its
occupants of which he is not aware or of which he cannot make a guess. As such,
he viewed as the eyes and ears of the Collector.
The duties of the
Patwaris include conducting of surveys, field inspections, recording of crops,
revision of maps or reports relating to mutations, partition, revenue or rents,
taccavi, etc. Under the orders of the Collector, he prepares the records of
rights. He is also required to assist in providing relief to agriculturists in
distress or in census operations. He reports the crime and prepares maps to
illustrate police inquiries. His special duty is the preparation of dhal
bachh (papers regarding distribution of revenue over holdings).
Lambardars. – Lambardars is the
most important functionary in the village. His main function is to keep watch
over the law and order situation in his area and report the matter to the
nearest police station in case of breach of law. It is also his duty to collect
the revenue dues for Government from various sources and to remit these into
treasury. He is given 5 per cent of land revenue collection which is called pachotra.
He is the custodian of al government properties in the village. He also reports
to the Tahsildar about the deaths of assignees and pensioners and their absence
for over a year. Above all, he is the representative of Government in the
village. He is assisted by a village Chowkidar.