(a) Development Organization

The District has been divided into 9 development block, viz. Abohar, Dharmkot, Firozpur, Fazilka, Guru Har Sahai, Ghal Khurd, Jalalabad, Khuyan Sarwar and Zira. Each block is under the control of a block development and panchayat officer. Previously, he was called block development officer, but with the merger of the panchayat Department into the Development Department, his designation was changed. He has been vested with the powers of a panchayat officer under the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952. A block generally consists of 60 villages.

The block development and panchat officer is under the administrative control of the chairman of the respective block samiti, subdivisional officer (civil) of the respective subdivision officer, and the district development and panchayat officer at the district level, besides being under the overall control of the deputy commissioner.

The block development and panchayat officer is mainly responsible for the successful implementation of development schemes. He is assisted by a social education and panchayat officer, a lady social education organizer, an overseer (popularly known as extension officer), a number of gramsevaks and gramsevikas, besides ministerial class III and class IV staff. Besides, he has a number of extension officers belonging to the departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Co-operation and Industries. They assist and advise him in their respective spheres. This was done after the introduction of the Panchayati Raj in the State in order to co-ordinate the activities of various nations building departments.

(b) General Arrangement For the Disposal of Business

In addition to the subdivisional officers (civil), tehsildars and block development and panchayat officers, the Deputy Commissioner, Firozpur is assisted by an additional deputy commissioner, l a general assistant, a district revenue officer, a district officer, removal of grievances, a district transport officer, a district development and panchayat officer and executive magistrates.

Additional Deputy Commissioner :- The post of an additional deputy commissioner was created with a view to providing relief to the Deputy Commissioner, Firozpur. The powers delegated to the additional deputy commissioner are to sanction earned leave to kanungos and Patwaris; to sanction medical reimbursement to the staff of the office of the Deputy Commissioner; to entertain revision partitions under Section 16 (2) of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, Section 84 of the Punjab Tenancy Act, and review petitions under section 15 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act and section 82 of the Punjab Tenancy Act; to entertain transfer applications under section 122 of the Land Revenue Act; to approve rent rolls under para 12 of the Financial Commissioner’s Standing Order No. 31 and to sanction other Kisthandis of additional land revenue, mutation fee, record fee, taccavi, etc. under paras 594 and 606 of the Punjab Land Administration Manual; to sign recovery certificates received from other district; and power of chief sales commissioner.

General Assistant :-- He is the Deputy Commissioner’s personal executive officer and assists him in all his executive and administrative functions. As such, he is the principal administrative officer and attends to routine correspondence, attestation, complaints, etc. He does little or no touring, as he has to keep a vigilant eye on the District officer. Almost all the branches of the Deputy Commissioner’s officer are under his supervision. He is competent to correspond with Punjab Government and other departments in the routine matters. He is magistrate Ist class but, since the separation of the judiciary from the executive on 2 October 1964, he has been trying only security cases.

He is also holding the additional charge of Civil Defence Officer of the District. As the Civil Defecne officer, he is responsible for the defence of civilian population in times of war or aggression. He is also responsible for the maintenance of fire-fighting equipment, the proper functioning of sirens, digging of trenches, first aid, extension of hospital facilities, the laying of additional beds, electricity, water facilities etc.

District Revenue Officer :-- With the abolition of the posts revenue assistants, the duties are now being performed by the district revenue officers, the duties are now being performed by the district revenue officers. The District Revenue officer, Firozpur, is responsible for the proper and correct maintenance of revenue records revenue account, muafis, assignments, jagirs, etc. and service records of patwaris and Kanungos of the District. He is the officer-in-charge of the sadr Kanungo, D.R.A., Registration and Land Acquisition branches of the Deputy Commissioner’ office. He is required to watch the progress of the recovery of all government dues in the District and keep the Deputy Commissioner informed about the pace of recover. He assists the Deputy Commissioner in carrying out the inspection of tehsils, sub-tehsils acts on his behalf for organizing special girdawaris for crop cess and special girdawari, for natural calamities, floods, etc. Besides, he con-ordinates his activities with the departments, such as irrigation, public woks (B & R), Co-operation and Agriculture, so as to ensure the smooth implantation of various development shames in which revenue work is involved. he collects information regarding agrarian reforms in the District from the collectors (agrarian) and other officers and after compiling them, he submits them every month to the Commissioner Firozpur. He is also responsible for pursuing the progress of land reforms cases in various courts and watches to interest of the State. On behalf of the D.C., the D.R.O. is responsible for the submission of the statements regarding the disposal of miscellaneous revenue work in the District every quarter to the Commissioner of the Division and half-yearly to the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Punjab.

District Officer, Removal of Grievances :--- At the District head-quarter, there is the District Officer, Removal of Grievances. He is a senior magistrate or an officer of equivalent status. He redresses the grievances of the public of the District and expedites action on the complaints received by him relating to all the departments. He also acts as a coordinating officer in the disposal of the complaints of the public.

District Transport Officer – The District Transport Officer is senior magistrate or an officer of equivalent status. He is the Registering Authority (Motors) and Licensing Officer of the District. He is also holding the charge of the elections branch of Deputy Commissioner’s office. His main functions comprise traffic checking, survey of routes, etc.

District Development and Pachayat Officer :-- This officer is in charge of the work relating to development, including local development, Five-Year-Plan, panchayats, National Extension Service etc. He co-ordinates the activities of all the development departments in the District. The Development Branch of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, which deals with the planning of development programmes and agricultural production, functions under his supervision. All the block development and panchayat officers in the District are under his control with respect to the implementation of the Rural Development Programme.

Executive Magistrate :-- There are 3 executive magistrate in the District, one each at Firozpur, Abohar and at Fazilka. They attend to the court work relating to security/revenue cases. They are also responsible for the criminal work of the various police stations falling within their respective jurisdictions. Besides, the General Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner, and the District Transport Officer have powers of executive magistrates.

Registration :- The Deputy Commissioner is the Registrar and in that capacity he is responsible for the registration work in the District. In the Firozpur District, the Registrar is assisted by 3 tehsildars as sub-registrars, one each in Firozpur, Fazilka and Zira tehsils. The naib-tehsildar in a tehsil is the ex-officio joint sub-registrar and undertakes the registration work only when the regular sub-registrar is on leave or away from the headquarters. The sub-registrar and the joint sub-registrar do registration work in addition to their own duties, for which they get a monthly honorarium. In the Abohar, Guru Har Sahai, Dharmkot and Jalalabad sub-tehsils, the registration work is done by the naib-tehsildars.

The Sub-Registrar registers the documents pertaining to the properties situated within his jurisdiction. The Registrar is, however, empowered to register any document from any tehsil of the District. He hears appeal and applications referred to him under sections 72 and 73 of the Indian Registration Act, 1908, against refusal to register documents by the sub-registrars under him.

A head registration clerk assists the Registrar at the District headquarter, and clerks/ readers assist the sub-registrar/joint sub-registrars in the tehsil/sub-tehsils in performing the registration work.

Notary Public :--There is a notary public at the District headquarters. He is appointed on the recommendations of the Legal Remembrancer, Punjab, Chandigarh, for a period of three years, which may be extended for another term. He is vested with the powers to attest all documents, wills, special powers of attorney and copies of all documents, on charges approved by the Government. He is also authorized to translate documents on payment approved by the Government.

District Attorney :-- Formerly designed public Prosecutor/Government Pleader, the District Attorney is appointed by the Home Secretary to Government, Punjab, on the recommendations of the Legal Remembrancer. He represents the Government cases in the court of the District & Sessions Judge,. he is under the administrative control of Director, Prosecution, Litigation and Joint Secretary to Government, Punjab. He is assisted by 4 assistant district attorneys grade-I, and 16 assistant district attorneys grade-II.

Oath Commissioner :- Oath commissioners are appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the recommendations of the District and Sessions Judge of the District. A practicing advocate of the District who has practiced law at the Court for two years can become an oath commissioner on application. The oath commissioners are authorized affidavits and charge Rs. 1 as the attestation fee.

District Committees

The following is the list of the District Committees of which the Deputy Commissioner of which the Deputy Commissioner is the Chairman or those he has to coven. They are constituted to accelerate the disposal of business. Their meetings are held at the District headquarters;

1 Child Welfare Council

2. District Red Cross Society.

3. Rural Development Agency.

4. Pre-mature release of life convicts Committee.

(f) State and Central Government Officers

The Following State and Central Government officers are posted at the District headquarters :

State Government Officers

1. District and Sessions Judge, Firozpur.

2. Civil Surgeon, Firozpur.

3. Chief Agricultural Officer, Firozpur.

4. District Attorney, Firozpur

5. District Education Officer, Firozpur.

6. District Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Firozpur.

7. District Food and Supplies Controller, Firozpur.

8. District Industries Officer, Firozpur.

9. District Public Relation Officer, Firozpur.

10 District Statistical Officer, Firozpur.

11. District Welfare Officer, Firozpur.

12. District Soldiers, and Sailors and Airmen Board, Firozpur.

13. Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, Firozpur.

14. Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Firozpur.

15. Superintendent, Central Jail, Firozpur.

16. District Employment Officer, Firozpur.

Executive Officer, Cantonment Board, Firozpur.

17. Tehsildar, Firozpur.

18. Treasury Officer, Firozpur.

19. Commandant, Punjab Home Guards, Firozpur.

20. Senior Superintendent of Police, Firozpur.

21. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Firozpur.

22. Superintending Engineer, Firozpur Canal Circle, Firozpur.

23. Superintending Engineer, Firozpur, PWD., B & R., Firozpur.

24. Superintending Engineer, Drainage Construction Circle, Firozpur.

25. Executive Engineer, Eastern Division, Firozpur.

26. Executive Engineer, Harike Division, Firozpur.

27. Executive Engineer, P.W.D, B & R, Construction Division, Firozpur.

28. Executive Engineer, P.W.D., B & R, Provincial Divisional, Firozpur.

29. Executive Engineer, Mechanical Drainage Construction Division, Firozpur.

30. Executive Engineer, Mechanical Division, Firozpur.

31. Executive Engineer, Golewala Drainage Division, Firozpur.

32. Executive Engineer, Drainage Construction Division, Firozpur.

33. Executive Engineer, Punjab State Electricity Board, Firozpur.

34. District Animal Husbandry officer, Firozpur.

35. Fisheries Officer, Firozpur.

36. District Language Officer, Firozpur.

37. Divisional Manager, Punjab Roadways, Firozpur.

38. Deputy Director, Local Government, Firozpur.

39. Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Firozpur.

40. General Manager, Punjab Roadways, Firozpur.

41. Divisional Forest Officer, Firozpur.

42. Conservator of Soils, South Circle, Firozpur.

43. District Sports Officer, Firozpur.

44. Director of Fisheries, Firozpur.

45. Joint Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Firozpur.

46. District Social Welfare Officer, Firozpur.

47. Secretary, Zila Parishad, Firozpur

48. Principal, I.T.I, Firozpur.

49. Deputy Director, Panchayati Raj, Firozpur.

50. Executive Engineer, Water Supply and Sewerage Division, Firozpur.

51. District Manager, PUNSUP, Firozpur.

52. District Manager, MARKFED, Firozpur.

53. Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Firozpur.

54. Commissioner, Firozpur Division, Firozpur.

55. District Transport Officer, Firozpur.

56. District Development and Panchayat Officer, Firozpur.

57. Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, Firozpur.

58. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Firozpur Range, Firozpur.

59. Divisional Town Planner, Firozpur.

60. Superintending Engineer, National Highway, Firozpur.

61. Superintending Engineer, Punjab State Electricity Board, Firozpur.

62. Executive Engineer, Rajasthan Feeder, Firozpur.

63. Executive Engineer, National Highway, Firozpur.

64. Executive Engineer, Central Works Division, Firozpur.

65. Executive Engineer, Housing Division Board, Firozpur.

Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Firozpur

66. Executive Engineer (R.E.), Punjab State Electricity Board, Firozpur.

67. Superintending Engineer, Punjab State Tubewell Corporation, Firozpur.

68. Superintendent of Police (D), Firozpur.

Central Government Officers

1. Commandant, N.C.C., Firozpur.

2. Divisional Engineer, Telegraphs, Firozpur.

3. Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Firozpur.

4. Chief Controller, Northern Railway, Firozpur.

5. Manager, District Food Corporation of India, Firozpur.

6. Development Officer, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Firozpur.

7. Income Tax Officer, Firozpur.

8. Income Tax Officer, Abohar.

CHAPTER XI

REVENUE ADMINISTRATION

(a) Land Revenue Administration

(i) History of Land Revenue Assessment and Management Village Communities and Tenures :- Very few of the villages in this District date, at any rate in their present form, from before the commencement of the nineteenth century. There are only a few that can trace back their history up to two and a half or three and a half centuries, but the majority are of comparatively recent date and in Fazilka they date only from the middle of the nineteenth century.

Pre-British Revenue System :- No information is available as regards the method of revenue collection used by the Mughals in this District. As regards the Sikhs, it seems that the Lahore and the Ahluwalia governments used to take their revenue in cash, but the sum was fixed only for short periods; they sometimes reverted to collections in kind, especially in the Naipal and Dogar tracts. The Raja of Faridkot and the Sardarni of Firozpur took their revenue in kind. The Guru of Guru Har Shai and the Bhais of Jhumba and Arnauli in the Kot Bhai ilaka, who received the status of jagirdars at the annexation of the Punjab in 1846, continued to collect the revenue assigned to them in kind up to 1872 settlement.

Summary Settlements :- Summary settlements were made for the various parts of the District as they came into British hands.

In 1840, Captain Lawrence made for the first time a five year settlement of pargana Firozpur, consisting of 64 villages, the jama of which was fixed at the company’s Rs. 19,000, inclusive of inam lands. this term expired in 1845, and Captain Nicholson then continued the settlement for one year longer at the same time rate from kharif 1845 to rabi 1846, and Daniell extended it for one year till the end of 1847; and Major F. Mackeson, the Commissioner and Superintendent, increased the amount of assessment by one third, or to Rs. 25,000 at which rate it remained till the Revised Settlement by Brandreth in 1855. The other parganas, included in the Firozpur District and annexed from the Sikh Government at Lahore, after the First anglo-Sikh, 1845-46, were also summarily assessed from 1846 till the end of 1856; but, owing to the absence of statistics, it is impossible to supply an accurate account of them.

The eastern part of the Zira Tehsil which, when first annexed, was included in the old “Wudnee” (badhni) District was summarily settled by Campbell. No definite information is forthcoming regarding this or the summary settlement of the rest of the Firozpur and Zira tehsils. The assessments were based on the collections of Sikh predecessors, with the result that the Muhammadan Bet was assessed considerably higher than the sikh upland.

In 1856, the ilaka of the Nawab of Mamdot was summarily assessed after its annexation in November 1855. Lump cash sums were imposed for the first two years and the villages left to distribute it among themselves. it consisted then of 242 villages and 70 chaks, which were surveyed and mapped under the supervision of Thomson, Assistant Commissioner, and Muhammad Sultan, Extra Assistant Commissioner. The totals jama proposed amounted to Rs. 33,786, inclusive of the sum of Rs, 6,223 derived form lease of jungle tracks, and the average rate of assessment was 12 annas a ghumaon. Originally, this settlement was sanctioned for five years, but it lasted up to 1871-75. Pargana Bahak was apparently never summarily settled. Other estates seem to have been summarily assessed as they were colonized.

Regular Settlements :- Brandreth carried out the Regular Settlement of the Zira Tehsil and Firozpur proper in 1853-54. He also settled the Bahak pargana in 1856-57. This settlement ran for thirty years. The First Regular Settlement of the Mamdot jagir was carried out by Purser in 1872-79. the remainder of the present Fazilka Tehsil was settled by J.H. Oliver between 1857- 1863.

Revision of the Regular Settlement :- K.B. Franics revised the assessment of the whole of the old Firozpur District between the years 1884 and 1891. The term sanctioned was twenty-five years for the northern tehsils and twenty years for the Mamdot jagir. Francis raised the assessment considerably, the percentage of increase being 52 per cent in Zira, 59 in Firozpur and 78 per cent in Mamdot. These figures were calculated on a comparison of the total demand of the last year of the expiring settlement with that of the first year of the new demand including kush haisiyati, , or water-advantage rate on irrigation done from the Grey Canals. This rate was imposed for the first time by Francis.

The first revision of the Fazilka Tehsil was carried out by Sir James Wilson in 1883. Owing to the alteration in the boundaries of the tehsil, which took place when the Sirsa District was broken up and the Fazilka Tehsil was transferred to Firozpur, it is impossible to say what the total increase taken by wilson was but the general increase in the Rohi Circle, as then constituted, was 81 per cent, in the Utar 47 per cent, and in the Hithar Circle, which was mostly placed under a system of fluctuating assessment, it was estimated at about 26 per cent. The introduction of the Sirhind Canal made the assessment nominal in the Rohi and it was light in the Utar, but owing to a succession of bad harvests, suspensions amounted to 9 per cent of the annual demand and remissions to 1-1/2 per cent. the main features of Wilson’s Settlement in Fazilka were the grant of proprietary rights to the lessees of the farmed villages and of occupancy rights to their tenants and the great extension of the fluctuating system in the Hithar Circle. Wilson’s settlement was sanctioned for 20 years.

The Fazilka Tehsil was resettled in 1900-01 by C.M. King. He extended the fluctuating system to all the villages of the Hithar Circle and introduced the khush haisiyati, or the water –advantages rate consequent upon the irrigation form the Grey Canals in the Utar Circle. His assessment resulted in an increased of nearly 64 per cent in the tract as a whole, the enhancement amounting to 69 per cent in the Rohi, 80 per cent in the Utar and 19 per cent in the Hithar according to his estimate of the proceeds of the fluctuating system.

Revised Settlement , 1910-15 :- The settlement of 1910-15 was the second revision of the assessment for the Zira and Firozpur tehsils and the Mamdot Jagir and the third revision in the Fazilka Tehsil. Operations commenced in November 1910 and the settlement was closed in the spring of 1915. The assessment of the Zira Tehsil was carried out by L. Middleton, Assistant Settlement Officer, and that of the remainder of the District by M.M.L. Currie, Settlement Officer.

The following table shows in a summary form the results of the reassessment of the different parts of the District.

Tract	Old Demand		Total	New Demand		Total	Percentage of
	Fixed Last year	Flcutuating average		Fixed, Final	Fluctuating Estimated		Increase column 7 on column 4	True half net assets absorbed
Firozpur proper	1,17,254	10,083	1,27,337	1,49,407	15,249	1,64,656	29	38
Zira	2,24,306	12,876	2,37,182	2,89,207	28,891	3,18,098	34	41
Mamdot Jagir	1,12,018	23,936	1,36,004	1,20,627	36,227	1,56,904	15	48
Fazilka	1,49,929	35,218	1,35,218	2,96,327	37,221	3,33,548	80	37-1/2
District	6,03,507	82,163	6,85,670	8,55,568	1,17,638	9,73,206	42

The most important ground for the enhancement of the revenue was the rise in prices and greatly increased value of land; this was applicable to the whole of the District. The actual rise in prices may at a moderate estimate be put at 50 per cent in the last 20 years, while the value of the land doubled at least and in some parts even quadrupled within the same period. Secondly, in the tract irrigated by the Sirhind Canal, at the previous settlements, no account had been taken of with respect to the value of the profits of canal irrigation. Thirdly, the previous assessments had everywhere been extremely lenient when originally imposed. Fourthly, in Fazilka, there had been a considerable extension in the cultivated areas.

Working of the Settlement of 1910-15 ---- The assessment made in the settlement operations in 1910-1915 was due for re-assessment after 30 years. But it could not be undertaken on account of the World War-II (1939-45), followed by the partition of the country and its independence in 1947. The land revenue, therefore, continued to be the same as was fixed during the last settlement.

The charges of land revenue, fixed early in the second decade of the present century, had lost their contact with the income according from land. With the expansion of Government establishment and the introduction of various development plans, the Government expenditure had also vastly increased, particularly since Independence. The State Government, therefore, tapped different sources of revenue to meet this ever-growing demand. As regards land revenue, in addition to the assessed demand of land revenue of 1910-15 , the Additional Land Revenue is being levied in accordance with the Punjab Land Revenue (amendment) Act, 1974.

(ii) Collection of Land Revenue :-- The revenue collection is the responsibility of the lambardar (village headman). Under the First Regular Settlement of the District in 1853-54, the village lambardars were required to collect the land revenue from the concerned communities of landowners. All the lambardars, wherever possible, were appointed headmen to compose the claims of rural claimants in regular settlement. These were different from the local leaders, such as tholedar, pattidars, etc. Tholedars, who were representatives chosen by the people, have been replaced by the village panches. The Tholedari system has been totally abolished. The hereditary claims of the lambardars are still in vogue. The vacancies of lambardars, which fell vacant owing to the migration of the Muslim lambardars, in 1947, were filled up by the permanent evacuee lambardars.

The zaildari system was introduced during the settlement of 1884--91 to assist the lambardars in the realization of the revenue arrears. The ala lambardars appointed in 1879, had been a failure. In 1909, it was decided to do away with this institution gradually. In their place, sufedposh were appointed.

Since the beginning of the Third Regular Settlement in 1910-15, vacancies of ala lambardars have not been filled up and , in their place, it was decided to create suffedposhi inams. Till 1948, the agencies of zaildars, sufedposhi inams and lambardars continued to be responsible for the collection of land revenue. Zaildars and suffedposhs were paid from a portion, usually one per cent of the land revenue, which was set aside for the purpose. The agencies of zaildari and sufedposhi were abolished in 1948. These revived in 1950, but were again abolished in 1952.

Now only lambardars are responsible for the collection of revenue on payment of pachotra, a cess charged at the rate of 5 per cent of the land revenue. In case, the lambardar is unable to collect the land revenue, he makes a written complaint to the tehsildar who helps to effect the recovery. At present, Harijan lambardars have also been appointed, but they are not authorised to collect land revenue, etc. They can only attest the bail bonds in the courts.

Besides land revenue, the lambardars collect abiana and the water-advantage rate, for which they are paid 3 per cent and 5 per cent respectively as collection charges.

The lambardars are authorised to remit land revenue by post; but this system is not so popular because majority of them generally find it more convenient and economical to visit the tehsil headquarters personally for crediting the land revenue in the tehsil treasury than sending it through money order.

(iv) Income from Land Revenue and Special Cases

Land Revenue :- The land revenue, fixed as in the last settlement of 1910-15, is realized to this day as there has been no revised settlement thereafter.

In 1961, the Punjab Land Revenue (Thus, Sem, Chos and Sand) Remission and Supervision Rules, 1961, were enforced, under which land revenue of all lands rendered unculturalable on account of thus and sem is remitted.

Land revenue is realized in two installments, i.e. for kharif crop by 15 December and for rabi crops by 15 June. The following statement gives the details of -income from land revenue and remission in the District during 1972-73 to 1979-80:

Income from Land Revenue and Remissions in the Firozpur District, 1972-73 to 1979-80

Year Previous Demand Total Actual Remission Balance

Ending years amount recovery

Rubi balance for

Recovery

(Rs) (Rs) (Rs) (Rs.0 (Rs) (Rs)

1972-73 2,16,281 7,71,947 9,88,228 5,02,649 1,87,446 2,98,133

1973-74 2,98,133 7,70,265 10,68,398 3,79,077 --- 6,89,321

1974-75 6,89,321 7,69,665 14,58,986 4,09,95 -- 10,49,791

1975-76 10,49,791 7,69,582 18,19,373 3,50,655 6,75,198 7,93,520

1976-77 9,93,520 7,68,174 15,61,694 3,72,374 -- 11,89,320

1977-78 11,89,320 7,67,574 19,46,894 3,90,390 30,826 15,25,678

1978-79 15,25,678 7,67,124 22,92,802 3,94,143 14,83,033 4,15,626

1979-80 4,15,626 7,71,919 11,87,545 3,87,809 -- 7,99,736

(Source : Deputy Commissioner, Firozpur)

Special Cesses—Besides the land revenue, the following casses are levied on the landowners.

Village Officers’ Cess

The patwar cess was remitted in 1906. With the abolition of zaildari and sufedposhi agencies in 1948, only pachotra at the rate of 5 per cent of the land revenue is charged as the village officers’ cess in the District.

Local Rate

It has grown from small beginnings. It was usual in early settlements to levy a road cess at 1 per cent of the land revenue. Subsequently, education and postal cesses amounting to 1 per cent and 1-1/2 per cent respectively were added. But, under the Punjab Local Rates Act (XX) of 1871, a local rate amounting to 6-1/4 per cent of the land revenue was imposed. The local rate was raised by the Punjab Local Rates Act (V) of 1878 from 6-1/4 per cent to 8-1/2 per cent for providing the famine-stricken people with relief.

With the passing of the Punjab District Boards Act, (XX) of 1883, the road, education and postal cesses were merged into the local rate, and the legal limit of the rate was raised to 12-1/2 per cent of the land revenue and the owners’s rate, and, under this Act, the whole of the local rate was credited to the District Board.

Latter on, the local rate was reduced to 6-1/4 per cent. It was raised to 9-3/8 per cent—vide Notification No. 1393-L6-45/9263, dated 29 May 1945. But, before the recovery could be effected, it was further raised to 12-1/2 per cent-vide Notification No. 3497-L6-45/26559, dated 5 October 1945, to be enforced retrospectively from 1 April 1975.

The local rate was further increased to 25 per cent of the land revenue vide Notification No. 4393-B&C-48/22423, dated 26 April 1948, to be enforced from kharif 1947. it was still further raised from kharif 1948 to 50 per cent of the land revenue, and it continues to be enforced.,

The table below shows the amount of local rate collections in the Firozpur District during 1972-73 to 1979-80 :

Year ending rabi Local rate

collections

Rs

1972-73 7,13,815

1973-74 7,22,460

1974-75 10,15,604

1975-76 9,83,615

1976-77 9,20,235

1977-78 10,57,696

1978-79 10,07,136

1979-80 10,23,943

(Source : Deputy Commissioner, Firozpur)

Additional Land Revenue

The surcharge and special charge on land revenue were levied under the Punjab Land Revenue (Surcharge) Act, 1954 and Punjab Land Revenue (Special Charge) Act, 1958. These Acts were repealed with effect from the kharif harvest of the agricultural year, 1974-75, by the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Act, 1974, which instead levied additional land revenue on every landowner who paid land revenue in excess of twenty rupees. The additional land revenue is levied at different rates as under

1. Where the total land revenue exceeds Two hundred per cent of the amount by

twenty reupees but does not exceed which the total land revenue exceeds

fifty rupees annually. Twenty rupees.

2. Where the total land revenue exceeds Sixty rupees plus two hundred and

fifty rupees but does not exceeds one fifty per cent of the amount by which

hundred rupees annually the total land revenue exceeds fifty rupees.

3. Where the total land revenue exceeds One hundred and eighty-five rupees

one hundred rupees but does not plus three hundred per cent of the

exceed two hundred rupees annually. Amount by which the total land revenue exceeds one hundred rupees

4. Where the total land revenue exceeds Four hundred and eighty-five rupees

two hundred rupees annually. Plus three hundred and fifty per cent of the amount by which the total land revenue exceeds two hundred rupees.

The table below gives the income from additional land revenue in the Firozpur District during 1974-75 to 1979-80

Year Income from additional

land revenue Rs.

1974-75 47,630

1975-76 40,513

1976-77 42,021

1977-78 45,394

1978-79 43,865

1979-80 37,435

(Source : Deputy Commissioner, Firozpur)

Abiana

Abiana is charged on the area irrigated by canals. The income from this course in the Firozpur District during 1972-73 to 1979-80 is given hereunder :

Year Collections

from abiana Rs.

1972-73 67,68,026

1973-74 71,69,197

1974-75 14,16,708

1975-76 1,14,59,971

1976-77 1,60,97,027

1977-78 1,59,99,937

1978-79 1,66,07,677

1979-80 1,66,07,677

(Source : Deputy Commissioner, Firozpur)

(b) Land Reforms

Land is an important factor in agricultural production. The conditions and circumstances concerning the ownership and cultivation of land have an important bearing on agricultural productivity. Agricultural progress cannot be achieved satisfactorily if the tenancy conditions and tenure system remain outdated. Land reforms are, therefore, essential for agricultural development. These reforms also promote, on the one hand, the well-being and contentment of the individual owner and, on the other, the stability of the society.

Generally, land reforms impinge upon a number of agrarian problems, such as the methods of forming land; the distribution of land ownership and the legal and customary institutions of land tenure; and rural social conditions and the political forces which work for and against social change. These land reforms in the end aim at a better distribution of income and a broader social equality.

The relationship between the landlord and the tenant, based on old-time traditional beliefs, had been, for a long time past, getting strained to the detriment of both agricultural and the cultivator. Attempts have, therefore been made to put the relationship on statutory basis, eliminating altogether the intermediaries. Thus the Punjab Tenancy Act, 1897, (Act XVI of 1887) was enacted. Although it provided for the regularization of the right of occupancy, yet this right was restricted to a small number of tenants. At the same time, while the occupancy right was inalienable, in the Punjab it could be mortgaged, sold or given away. The other tenants, who did not have the right of occupancy and did not hold for a fixed term under a contract of a decree or order of competent authority, could be ejected at the end of any agricultural year. The security of tenure assured to the Punjab tenant was, therefore, nominal.

The previous land ceiling laws did not achieve the objective of reducing inequalities of income and wealth, sufficiently, mainly, because of exemption provided for various categories of landowners. On the basis of national guide lines, the Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972, was passed on 14 December 1972. In order to carry out the objectives of the Act, the Punjab Land Reform Rules, 1973 were framed. According to these rules, the Subdivisional Officers (Civil), exercising the powers of the Assistant Collector, Ist grade, has been authorized to function as the Collector. A scheme, namely, the Punjab Utilization of Surplus Areas Scheme, 1973, has also been framed under the provisions of the Act for utilization the surplus areas.

The Punjab Abolition of Ala Malkiat and Talukadari Right Act, 1952, extinguished all rights, title and interest of an ala malik in the land held under him by an adna malik and required the latter to pay compensation to the former. The Punjab Occupancy Tenants (Vesting of Proprietary Rights) Act, 1953, declared all the occupancy tenants as owners of land.

The post-Independence (1947) land reforms programme, outlined in the First-Five-Year Plan (1951-56), and further elaborated in the second (1956-61) and Third (1961-66) Plans, is, therefore, an essential part of the scheme of agricultural development and rural reconstruction. Its objectives are to remove such motivational and other impediments to increase in agricultural production as arise from the agrarian structure inherited from the past, to create conditions for evolving an agricultural economy with high levels of efficient and productivity and to eliminate elements of exploitation and social injustice. ‘Land to the tiller’ has been adopted as the main concept inn the scheme of land reforms which contemplates that owner-cultivation should be established on the widest possible scale and all cultivators should go into direct relation with the State.

In pursuance of the agrarian reforms, the State Government have made the following enactments :

1. The Act Punjab Utilization of Lands Act, 1949 (East

Punjab Act XXXVII of 1949)

2. The Punjab Occupancy Tenants (Vesting of Proprietary

Rights) Act, 1952 (Punjab Act VIII of 1953).

3. The Punjab Abolition Ala Malkiat and Talukdari

Rights Act, 1952 (Punjab Act IX of 1953).

4. The Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953 (Punjab

Act X of 1953).

5. The Punjab Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1955 (Punjab Act 45 of

1956).

6. The Punjab Resumption of jagirs Act, 1957 (Punjab Act

39 of 1957).

7. The Punjab Village common Lands (Regulation) Act,

1961 (Punjab Act 18 of 1961).

8. The Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972.

The distribution of land among various classes of cultivators/landholders in the Firozpur District, during 1972-73 to 1979-80, is given in the following statement;

Distribution of land among various classes of cultivators/land-holders in the Firozpur District, 1972-73 to 1979-80.

Year

Class of cultivators/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Landholders 1972-73 1973-74 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80

Total cultivated 12,51,033 12,56,185 15,55,365 12,60,661 12,60,661 12,57,482 12,59,476 12,59,328

Area

Tenant at will 3,72,920 3,24,939 5,20,135 5,13,333 5,34,575 5,15,308 4,85,833 2,61,508

Owners 8,113 931,246 10,35,230 7,47,328 7,26,086 7,42,174 7,73,643 9,97,820

Tenants with rights --- --- --- -- --- --- --- --

Of occupancy

(Source: Deputy Commissioner, Firozpur)

Security of Land Tenures :- The security of tenure is essential to the carrying on of good arming. If the farmer feels insecure, he will not take much interest in cultivation, and production will suffer. Legislation providing for the security of tenure has, therefore, been made.

The Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953, as amended up to date, has not only reduced the acreage which can be reserved but has also specifically prohibited the ejectment of tenants from all unreserved area, except in cases of default with respect to the payment of rent or proper cultivation. Rent has been limited to one-third of the crop or equal to its value or to the customary rent in case it is lower. The payment for services provided by the landlord is, however, excluded from the computation of rent. The Act further extends the opportunities for tenants to become owners. A tenant of 4 years standing acquires a right of pre-emption at sales of foreclosure; but, what is more important is that the tenants of 6 year’s standing are allowed to by non-reserved area from their landlords at three-fourths of 10 years average of prices of similar land.

The Government have been further empowered to utilize the surplus area of landowners and tenants for the resettlement of ejected tenants, landless labourers and small landowners. All areas owned by a local owner above 30 standard acres and by a displaced person above 50 standard acres would be considered ‘surplus’ area. A small owner, who owns up to 30 standard acres, cannot eject a tenant under the Act from 5 standard acres unless the tenant has been settled by Government on surplus area.

By 31 March 1980, 10,989 cases of surplus area were decided and 43,254 standard acres was declared surplus in the Firozpur District. By the same date, 3,570 eligible tenants were resettled on the surplus area. Proprietary rights were given to the tenants with respect to 3,274 standard acres.

Utilization of Land :- Land is a primary factor, without which no production is possible. But land in a country is of various categories and can be used in different ways. Broadly speaking, land is used for two purposes-agricultural and non-agricultural. Agricultural land is used for growing food crops and non-food crops.

Non-agricultural land is used for residential and industrial purposes.

Here we are mainly concerned with the agricultural use of land.

In pursuance of its policy utilize every inch of available culturable land for growing more food and other essential crops, the Government enforced the East Punjab Utilization of Lands Act, 1949. Under this Act, a notice is served on every landowner who allows his land to remain uncultivated for 6 or more consecutive harvest and the land, thus taken over, is leased out to others for a term ranging from 7 to 20 years, priority being give to Harijans. Under the provisions of this Act, 3,,717 acrea has been taken over and leased out 1,019 acres among Harijan and 2,698 acres among others in the District.

Consolidation of Holdings :- By consolidation is meant the bringing together in one compact block a cultivator’s all plots of land scattered all over the village. consolidation is achieved by first pooling all land in the village in one block and then dividing it into compact block among all the owners in the village. Consolidation saves time and labour, facilities the improvement of land through irrigation as well as through dry-farming practices, and provides an opportunity for replanning individual holdings and the village abadi and for providing roads and other amenities, such as playgrounds and hospitals. As a result of consolidation, there has been a reduction in the number of plots. Roads have been straightened. Land has been reserved for schools and for other public purposes. It also facilitates the management of land and leads to investment to improve it. In undulating areas, it facilitates soil-conservation measures by replanning consolidated holdings along contours, and in other areas, it makes the developing of irrigation and drainage projects easy.

Before 1948, the work of consolidation of holdings was being carried on by the Co-operative Department of the State. This Department had been doing this work since 1930, but in the absence of the force of legislation, the work did not much make headway. With the attainment of Independence, the State Government realized the importance of the consolidation of holdings and enacted the East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948, and created a separate Consolidation Department in 1949.

The Act has got the provisions to reserve lands for common purposes. The circular road, with additional plots for the extension of abadi, is also provided. Landless residents of the villages are to be given suitable plots free of charge for residential purposes out of the common pool.

Consolidation is a great to the agriculturist. The tiller is saved to a great extent from the labour of supervising and irrigating the holdings when they are scattered. he can avail himself of the facilities of modern agricultural implements and can introduce and can mechanize the cultivation of his consolidated area. A lot of virgin land is also reclaimed by the Government as a corollary to the scheme. In fact, consolidation improve tremendously the economic condition of a tiller of land. The chances of litigation have also been reduced as a sequel to consolidation.

A large amount of waste land has also been brought under cultivation. The scale of measurement and the size of fields have become uniform.

In the Firozpur District, the consolidation of holdings started in July 1953. Now it has almost been completed. The work was started in the Zira Tehsil in July 1953 in the Firozpur Tehsil in April 1958, and in the Fazilka Tehsil in May, 1960.

“Bhoodaan” :- Bhoodan is the voluntary contribution of land from the ‘haves’ to ‘have-nots’. The Punjab Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1955, was passed to promote the movement initiated in 1952 by Acharya Vinoba Bhave. In the Firozpur District, 405 acres has since been given in Bhoodan and 294 acres has been distributed among the people.

Rural Wages and Conditions of Agricultural Labour : - The plight of agricultural labour is far from satisfactory. This category of labour is not organised. Wages for agricultural labour have no doubt increased during the past few years, but favrourable conditions of work or benefits of service are nowhere to be seen.

The wages paid to agricultural and skilled workers (men) in a selected village, viz. Sodhi Nagar in the Firozpur Tehsil during 1972 to 1980 are given in the following statement :

	Agricultural Labour Skilled Labour
Year	For ploughing Rs	For sowing Rs	For weeding Rs	For Harvest-ing Rs	For other picking of cotton Rs	For other agriculture operation Rs	Black smith Rs	Carpentar Rs
1970	6.18	6.25	6.19	7.67	2.00	6.25	12.58	12.58
1971	7.17	7.00	7.00	10.00	--	7.17	12.00	12.00
1972	6.67	6.60	6.57	9.08	--	6.73	11.83	11.83
1973	7.50	7.00	7.50	11.67	--	7.47	11.71	11.79
1974	9.88	10.37	8.07	8.50	5.08	9.95	14.17	14.17
1975	11.40	11.40	11.40	10.64	--	11.40	15.55	15.57
1976	11.31	11.00	10.86	11.89	--	11.40	11.40	19.38
1977	12.68	12.50	12.29	13.50	--	12.55	23.18	23.18
1978	13.83	13.93	13.75	13.50	--	13.79	24.17	24.17
1979	12.90	12.94	13.04	15.12	12.75	13.78	24.67	24.67
1980	13.87	13.59	13.63	13.25	--	13.87	25.26	25.26#~

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