NCERT Textbook: Rural Administration | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

 Page 1


There are more than six lakh villages in India. 
Taking care of their needs for water, electricity, 
road connections, is not a small task. In addition 
to this, land records have to be maintained 
and conflicts too need to be dealt with. A large 
machinery is in place to deal with all this. In 
this chapter we will look at the work of two rural 
administrative officers in some detail.
Chapter 5
Rural 
Administration
M
ohan is a farmer. His family owns 
a small agricultural field, which 
they have been farming for many 
years. Next to his field is Raghu’s land 
which is separated from his by a small 
boundary called a bund.
One morning Mohan noticed that 
Raghu had shifted the bund by a few 
feet. By doing so, he had managed to 
take over some of Mohan’s land, and 
increased the size of his own field.
Mohan was angry but also a little 
frightened. Raghu’s family owned many 
fields and besides, his uncle was also 
the Sarpanch of the village. But even 
so, he plucked up courage and went to 
Raghu’s house.
A heated argument followed. Raghu 
refused to accept that he had moved 
the bund. He called one of his helpers 
and they began shouting at Mohan and 
beating him up. The neighbours heard 
the commotion and rushed to the spot 
where Mohan was being beaten up. 
They took him away.
He was badly hurt on his head and 
hand.  He was given first aid by one of 
his neighbours. His friend, who also ran 
the village post-office, suggested that 
they go to the local police station and 
file a report. Others were doubtful if this 
was a good idea because they felt they 
would waste a lot of money and nothing 
would come out of it. Some people said 
that Raghu’s family would have already 
contacted the police station.
After much discussion it was 
decided that Mohan would go to the 
police station along with some of the 
neighbours who had seen the incident.
A Quarrel in the Village
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   42 14-11-2022   04:30:16 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 2


There are more than six lakh villages in India. 
Taking care of their needs for water, electricity, 
road connections, is not a small task. In addition 
to this, land records have to be maintained 
and conflicts too need to be dealt with. A large 
machinery is in place to deal with all this. In 
this chapter we will look at the work of two rural 
administrative officers in some detail.
Chapter 5
Rural 
Administration
M
ohan is a farmer. His family owns 
a small agricultural field, which 
they have been farming for many 
years. Next to his field is Raghu’s land 
which is separated from his by a small 
boundary called a bund.
One morning Mohan noticed that 
Raghu had shifted the bund by a few 
feet. By doing so, he had managed to 
take over some of Mohan’s land, and 
increased the size of his own field.
Mohan was angry but also a little 
frightened. Raghu’s family owned many 
fields and besides, his uncle was also 
the Sarpanch of the village. But even 
so, he plucked up courage and went to 
Raghu’s house.
A heated argument followed. Raghu 
refused to accept that he had moved 
the bund. He called one of his helpers 
and they began shouting at Mohan and 
beating him up. The neighbours heard 
the commotion and rushed to the spot 
where Mohan was being beaten up. 
They took him away.
He was badly hurt on his head and 
hand.  He was given first aid by one of 
his neighbours. His friend, who also ran 
the village post-office, suggested that 
they go to the local police station and 
file a report. Others were doubtful if this 
was a good idea because they felt they 
would waste a lot of money and nothing 
would come out of it. Some people said 
that Raghu’s family would have already 
contacted the police station.
After much discussion it was 
decided that Mohan would go to the 
police station along with some of the 
neighbours who had seen the incident.
A Quarrel in the Village
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   42 14-11-2022   04:30:16 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Rural Administration / 43 
then investigating them. Mohan showed 
him his injuries but the S.H.O did not 
believe him.
Mohan was puzzled and did not 
know what to do. He was not sure why 
his complaint was not being recorded. 
He went and called his neighbours into 
the office. They argued strongly that 
Mohan had been beaten up in front of 
them and had they not rescued him he 
would have been injured very seriously. 
They insisted that the case be registered. 
Finally the officer agreed. He asked 
Mohan to write down his complaint and 
Area of the Police Station
On the way to the police station one of 
the neighbours asked, “Why don’t we 
spend some more money and go to the 
main police station in the town?”
“It is not a question of money. We 
can register the case only in this police 
station because our village comes in its 
area of work,” explained Mohan.
Every police station has an area that  
comes under its control. All persons in 
that area can report cases or inform  the  
police about any theft, accident, injury, 
fight, etc. It is the responsibility of the  
police of that station to enquire, to 
investigate and take action on the cases 
within its area.
1. If there is a theft in your house 
which police station would you go 
to register your complaint?
2. What was the dispute between 
Mohan and Raghu?
3. Why was Mohan worried about 
picking a quarrel with Raghu?
4. Some people said Mohan should 
report the matter to the police and 
others said he should not. What 
were the arguments they gave?
The work at the Police Station
When they reached the police station 
Mohan went to the person in charge 
(Station House Officer or S.H.O.) and 
told him what had happened. He 
also said that he wanted to give the 
complaint in writing. The S.H.O rudely 
brushed him aside saying that he 
couldn’t be bothered to waste his time 
writing  down  minor  complaints  and 
Show the above situation in the 
police station through a skit.
Then talk about how you felt 
playing Mohan’s role or that of the 
S.H.O or the neighbours. Could the 
S.H.O have handled the situation 
differently?
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   43 14-11-2022   04:30:17 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 3


There are more than six lakh villages in India. 
Taking care of their needs for water, electricity, 
road connections, is not a small task. In addition 
to this, land records have to be maintained 
and conflicts too need to be dealt with. A large 
machinery is in place to deal with all this. In 
this chapter we will look at the work of two rural 
administrative officers in some detail.
Chapter 5
Rural 
Administration
M
ohan is a farmer. His family owns 
a small agricultural field, which 
they have been farming for many 
years. Next to his field is Raghu’s land 
which is separated from his by a small 
boundary called a bund.
One morning Mohan noticed that 
Raghu had shifted the bund by a few 
feet. By doing so, he had managed to 
take over some of Mohan’s land, and 
increased the size of his own field.
Mohan was angry but also a little 
frightened. Raghu’s family owned many 
fields and besides, his uncle was also 
the Sarpanch of the village. But even 
so, he plucked up courage and went to 
Raghu’s house.
A heated argument followed. Raghu 
refused to accept that he had moved 
the bund. He called one of his helpers 
and they began shouting at Mohan and 
beating him up. The neighbours heard 
the commotion and rushed to the spot 
where Mohan was being beaten up. 
They took him away.
He was badly hurt on his head and 
hand.  He was given first aid by one of 
his neighbours. His friend, who also ran 
the village post-office, suggested that 
they go to the local police station and 
file a report. Others were doubtful if this 
was a good idea because they felt they 
would waste a lot of money and nothing 
would come out of it. Some people said 
that Raghu’s family would have already 
contacted the police station.
After much discussion it was 
decided that Mohan would go to the 
police station along with some of the 
neighbours who had seen the incident.
A Quarrel in the Village
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   42 14-11-2022   04:30:16 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Rural Administration / 43 
then investigating them. Mohan showed 
him his injuries but the S.H.O did not 
believe him.
Mohan was puzzled and did not 
know what to do. He was not sure why 
his complaint was not being recorded. 
He went and called his neighbours into 
the office. They argued strongly that 
Mohan had been beaten up in front of 
them and had they not rescued him he 
would have been injured very seriously. 
They insisted that the case be registered. 
Finally the officer agreed. He asked 
Mohan to write down his complaint and 
Area of the Police Station
On the way to the police station one of 
the neighbours asked, “Why don’t we 
spend some more money and go to the 
main police station in the town?”
“It is not a question of money. We 
can register the case only in this police 
station because our village comes in its 
area of work,” explained Mohan.
Every police station has an area that  
comes under its control. All persons in 
that area can report cases or inform  the  
police about any theft, accident, injury, 
fight, etc. It is the responsibility of the  
police of that station to enquire, to 
investigate and take action on the cases 
within its area.
1. If there is a theft in your house 
which police station would you go 
to register your complaint?
2. What was the dispute between 
Mohan and Raghu?
3. Why was Mohan worried about 
picking a quarrel with Raghu?
4. Some people said Mohan should 
report the matter to the police and 
others said he should not. What 
were the arguments they gave?
The work at the Police Station
When they reached the police station 
Mohan went to the person in charge 
(Station House Officer or S.H.O.) and 
told him what had happened. He 
also said that he wanted to give the 
complaint in writing. The S.H.O rudely 
brushed him aside saying that he 
couldn’t be bothered to waste his time 
writing  down  minor  complaints  and 
Show the above situation in the 
police station through a skit.
Then talk about how you felt 
playing Mohan’s role or that of the 
S.H.O or the neighbours. Could the 
S.H.O have handled the situation 
differently?
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   43 14-11-2022   04:30:17 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
44 / Social and Political Life
also told the people that he would send 
a constable the next day to investigate 
the incident.
Maintenance of Land Records
You saw that Mohan and Raghu were 
arguing heatedly whether the common 
boundary of their fields had been 
shifted. Isn’t there a way by which 
they could have settled this dispute in 
a peaceful manner? Are there records 
that show who owns what land in the 
village? Let’s find out how this is done.
Measuring land and keeping 
land records is the main work of the 
Patwari. The Patwari is known by 
different names in different states 
- in some villages such officers are 
called Lekhpal, in others Kanungo or 
Karamchari or Village Officer etc. We 
will refer to this officer as Patwari. 
Each Patwari is responsible for a group 
of villages. The Patwari maintains and 
updates the records of the village.
The map and the corresponding 
details from the register on the next 
page are a small part of the records 
kept by the Patwari.
The Patwari usually has ways of 
measuring agricultural fields. In some 
places a long chain is used. In the 
above instance the Patwari would have 
measured both Mohan’s and Raghu’s 
fields and compared them with the 
measurements on the map. If they did 
not match then it would be clear that 
the boundary of the fields has been 
changed.
The Patwari is also responsible 
for organising the collection of land 
revenue from the farmers and providing 
information to the government about the 
crops grown in this area. This is done 
from the records that are kept, and this 
is why it’s important for the Patwari to 
regularly update  these.  Farmers  may  
change the crops grown on their fields 
or someone may dig a well somewhere, 
Find out the term used for the Patwari 
in your state.
If you live in a rural area find out:
How many villages does the Patwari of 
your area maintain land records of?
How do people in the village contact 
him/her?
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   44 14-11-2022   04:30:19 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 4


There are more than six lakh villages in India. 
Taking care of their needs for water, electricity, 
road connections, is not a small task. In addition 
to this, land records have to be maintained 
and conflicts too need to be dealt with. A large 
machinery is in place to deal with all this. In 
this chapter we will look at the work of two rural 
administrative officers in some detail.
Chapter 5
Rural 
Administration
M
ohan is a farmer. His family owns 
a small agricultural field, which 
they have been farming for many 
years. Next to his field is Raghu’s land 
which is separated from his by a small 
boundary called a bund.
One morning Mohan noticed that 
Raghu had shifted the bund by a few 
feet. By doing so, he had managed to 
take over some of Mohan’s land, and 
increased the size of his own field.
Mohan was angry but also a little 
frightened. Raghu’s family owned many 
fields and besides, his uncle was also 
the Sarpanch of the village. But even 
so, he plucked up courage and went to 
Raghu’s house.
A heated argument followed. Raghu 
refused to accept that he had moved 
the bund. He called one of his helpers 
and they began shouting at Mohan and 
beating him up. The neighbours heard 
the commotion and rushed to the spot 
where Mohan was being beaten up. 
They took him away.
He was badly hurt on his head and 
hand.  He was given first aid by one of 
his neighbours. His friend, who also ran 
the village post-office, suggested that 
they go to the local police station and 
file a report. Others were doubtful if this 
was a good idea because they felt they 
would waste a lot of money and nothing 
would come out of it. Some people said 
that Raghu’s family would have already 
contacted the police station.
After much discussion it was 
decided that Mohan would go to the 
police station along with some of the 
neighbours who had seen the incident.
A Quarrel in the Village
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   42 14-11-2022   04:30:16 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Rural Administration / 43 
then investigating them. Mohan showed 
him his injuries but the S.H.O did not 
believe him.
Mohan was puzzled and did not 
know what to do. He was not sure why 
his complaint was not being recorded. 
He went and called his neighbours into 
the office. They argued strongly that 
Mohan had been beaten up in front of 
them and had they not rescued him he 
would have been injured very seriously. 
They insisted that the case be registered. 
Finally the officer agreed. He asked 
Mohan to write down his complaint and 
Area of the Police Station
On the way to the police station one of 
the neighbours asked, “Why don’t we 
spend some more money and go to the 
main police station in the town?”
“It is not a question of money. We 
can register the case only in this police 
station because our village comes in its 
area of work,” explained Mohan.
Every police station has an area that  
comes under its control. All persons in 
that area can report cases or inform  the  
police about any theft, accident, injury, 
fight, etc. It is the responsibility of the  
police of that station to enquire, to 
investigate and take action on the cases 
within its area.
1. If there is a theft in your house 
which police station would you go 
to register your complaint?
2. What was the dispute between 
Mohan and Raghu?
3. Why was Mohan worried about 
picking a quarrel with Raghu?
4. Some people said Mohan should 
report the matter to the police and 
others said he should not. What 
were the arguments they gave?
The work at the Police Station
When they reached the police station 
Mohan went to the person in charge 
(Station House Officer or S.H.O.) and 
told him what had happened. He 
also said that he wanted to give the 
complaint in writing. The S.H.O rudely 
brushed him aside saying that he 
couldn’t be bothered to waste his time 
writing  down  minor  complaints  and 
Show the above situation in the 
police station through a skit.
Then talk about how you felt 
playing Mohan’s role or that of the 
S.H.O or the neighbours. Could the 
S.H.O have handled the situation 
differently?
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   43 14-11-2022   04:30:17 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
44 / Social and Political Life
also told the people that he would send 
a constable the next day to investigate 
the incident.
Maintenance of Land Records
You saw that Mohan and Raghu were 
arguing heatedly whether the common 
boundary of their fields had been 
shifted. Isn’t there a way by which 
they could have settled this dispute in 
a peaceful manner? Are there records 
that show who owns what land in the 
village? Let’s find out how this is done.
Measuring land and keeping 
land records is the main work of the 
Patwari. The Patwari is known by 
different names in different states 
- in some villages such officers are 
called Lekhpal, in others Kanungo or 
Karamchari or Village Officer etc. We 
will refer to this officer as Patwari. 
Each Patwari is responsible for a group 
of villages. The Patwari maintains and 
updates the records of the village.
The map and the corresponding 
details from the register on the next 
page are a small part of the records 
kept by the Patwari.
The Patwari usually has ways of 
measuring agricultural fields. In some 
places a long chain is used. In the 
above instance the Patwari would have 
measured both Mohan’s and Raghu’s 
fields and compared them with the 
measurements on the map. If they did 
not match then it would be clear that 
the boundary of the fields has been 
changed.
The Patwari is also responsible 
for organising the collection of land 
revenue from the farmers and providing 
information to the government about the 
crops grown in this area. This is done 
from the records that are kept, and this 
is why it’s important for the Patwari to 
regularly update  these.  Farmers  may  
change the crops grown on their fields 
or someone may dig a well somewhere, 
Find out the term used for the Patwari 
in your state.
If you live in a rural area find out:
How many villages does the Patwari of 
your area maintain land records of?
How do people in the village contact 
him/her?
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   44 14-11-2022   04:30:19 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Rural Administration / 45 
1. Who owns the land south of 
Mohan’s field?
2. Mark the common boundary 
between Mohan’s and Raghu’s lands.
3. Who can use field no 3?
4. What information can one get for 
field no 2 and field no 3?
The Khasra record of the Patwari gives you information regarding the map given  
below. It identifies which plot of land is owned by whom. Look at both the records and 
the map and answer the questions given below regarding Mohan and Raghu’s land.
Khasra 5
No.
1
1
2
3
0.75
3.00
6.00
No
No
No
Mohna, Son of 
Raja Ram, Village 
Amarpura owner
Soya- 
bean
Soya-
bean, 
Wheat,
irriga-
ted
2.75
Hectare
1.75
0.25 Well-1
working
Well-1
working
Grazing
0.75
Hectare
-
Raghu Ram, Son 
of Ratan Lall, 
Village Amrapura 
owner
Madhya Pradesh 
Government 
Grassland
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Area in
hectare
Name of owner,
Father or
husband’s name, 
address
If it is rented 
to some other 
farmer, their 
name and rent 
received
Area cultivated 
this year
Crop
grown
Area Sec-
ond 
crop 
grown
Facilities
Area 
not 
culti-
vated 
fallow 
land
NORTH
VILLAGE - AMARPURA
PATWARI RECORD - 16
1
4
6
5
2
3
8
7
Sketch map – not to scale
Legand
Boundary
Well
Grassland
Kachcha road
Pakka road
Tree
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   45 14-11-2022   04:30:19 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 5


There are more than six lakh villages in India. 
Taking care of their needs for water, electricity, 
road connections, is not a small task. In addition 
to this, land records have to be maintained 
and conflicts too need to be dealt with. A large 
machinery is in place to deal with all this. In 
this chapter we will look at the work of two rural 
administrative officers in some detail.
Chapter 5
Rural 
Administration
M
ohan is a farmer. His family owns 
a small agricultural field, which 
they have been farming for many 
years. Next to his field is Raghu’s land 
which is separated from his by a small 
boundary called a bund.
One morning Mohan noticed that 
Raghu had shifted the bund by a few 
feet. By doing so, he had managed to 
take over some of Mohan’s land, and 
increased the size of his own field.
Mohan was angry but also a little 
frightened. Raghu’s family owned many 
fields and besides, his uncle was also 
the Sarpanch of the village. But even 
so, he plucked up courage and went to 
Raghu’s house.
A heated argument followed. Raghu 
refused to accept that he had moved 
the bund. He called one of his helpers 
and they began shouting at Mohan and 
beating him up. The neighbours heard 
the commotion and rushed to the spot 
where Mohan was being beaten up. 
They took him away.
He was badly hurt on his head and 
hand.  He was given first aid by one of 
his neighbours. His friend, who also ran 
the village post-office, suggested that 
they go to the local police station and 
file a report. Others were doubtful if this 
was a good idea because they felt they 
would waste a lot of money and nothing 
would come out of it. Some people said 
that Raghu’s family would have already 
contacted the police station.
After much discussion it was 
decided that Mohan would go to the 
police station along with some of the 
neighbours who had seen the incident.
A Quarrel in the Village
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   42 14-11-2022   04:30:16 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Rural Administration / 43 
then investigating them. Mohan showed 
him his injuries but the S.H.O did not 
believe him.
Mohan was puzzled and did not 
know what to do. He was not sure why 
his complaint was not being recorded. 
He went and called his neighbours into 
the office. They argued strongly that 
Mohan had been beaten up in front of 
them and had they not rescued him he 
would have been injured very seriously. 
They insisted that the case be registered. 
Finally the officer agreed. He asked 
Mohan to write down his complaint and 
Area of the Police Station
On the way to the police station one of 
the neighbours asked, “Why don’t we 
spend some more money and go to the 
main police station in the town?”
“It is not a question of money. We 
can register the case only in this police 
station because our village comes in its 
area of work,” explained Mohan.
Every police station has an area that  
comes under its control. All persons in 
that area can report cases or inform  the  
police about any theft, accident, injury, 
fight, etc. It is the responsibility of the  
police of that station to enquire, to 
investigate and take action on the cases 
within its area.
1. If there is a theft in your house 
which police station would you go 
to register your complaint?
2. What was the dispute between 
Mohan and Raghu?
3. Why was Mohan worried about 
picking a quarrel with Raghu?
4. Some people said Mohan should 
report the matter to the police and 
others said he should not. What 
were the arguments they gave?
The work at the Police Station
When they reached the police station 
Mohan went to the person in charge 
(Station House Officer or S.H.O.) and 
told him what had happened. He 
also said that he wanted to give the 
complaint in writing. The S.H.O rudely 
brushed him aside saying that he 
couldn’t be bothered to waste his time 
writing  down  minor  complaints  and 
Show the above situation in the 
police station through a skit.
Then talk about how you felt 
playing Mohan’s role or that of the 
S.H.O or the neighbours. Could the 
S.H.O have handled the situation 
differently?
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   43 14-11-2022   04:30:17 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
44 / Social and Political Life
also told the people that he would send 
a constable the next day to investigate 
the incident.
Maintenance of Land Records
You saw that Mohan and Raghu were 
arguing heatedly whether the common 
boundary of their fields had been 
shifted. Isn’t there a way by which 
they could have settled this dispute in 
a peaceful manner? Are there records 
that show who owns what land in the 
village? Let’s find out how this is done.
Measuring land and keeping 
land records is the main work of the 
Patwari. The Patwari is known by 
different names in different states 
- in some villages such officers are 
called Lekhpal, in others Kanungo or 
Karamchari or Village Officer etc. We 
will refer to this officer as Patwari. 
Each Patwari is responsible for a group 
of villages. The Patwari maintains and 
updates the records of the village.
The map and the corresponding 
details from the register on the next 
page are a small part of the records 
kept by the Patwari.
The Patwari usually has ways of 
measuring agricultural fields. In some 
places a long chain is used. In the 
above instance the Patwari would have 
measured both Mohan’s and Raghu’s 
fields and compared them with the 
measurements on the map. If they did 
not match then it would be clear that 
the boundary of the fields has been 
changed.
The Patwari is also responsible 
for organising the collection of land 
revenue from the farmers and providing 
information to the government about the 
crops grown in this area. This is done 
from the records that are kept, and this 
is why it’s important for the Patwari to 
regularly update  these.  Farmers  may  
change the crops grown on their fields 
or someone may dig a well somewhere, 
Find out the term used for the Patwari 
in your state.
If you live in a rural area find out:
How many villages does the Patwari of 
your area maintain land records of?
How do people in the village contact 
him/her?
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   44 14-11-2022   04:30:19 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Rural Administration / 45 
1. Who owns the land south of 
Mohan’s field?
2. Mark the common boundary 
between Mohan’s and Raghu’s lands.
3. Who can use field no 3?
4. What information can one get for 
field no 2 and field no 3?
The Khasra record of the Patwari gives you information regarding the map given  
below. It identifies which plot of land is owned by whom. Look at both the records and 
the map and answer the questions given below regarding Mohan and Raghu’s land.
Khasra 5
No.
1
1
2
3
0.75
3.00
6.00
No
No
No
Mohna, Son of 
Raja Ram, Village 
Amarpura owner
Soya- 
bean
Soya-
bean, 
Wheat,
irriga-
ted
2.75
Hectare
1.75
0.25 Well-1
working
Well-1
working
Grazing
0.75
Hectare
-
Raghu Ram, Son 
of Ratan Lall, 
Village Amrapura 
owner
Madhya Pradesh 
Government 
Grassland
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Area in
hectare
Name of owner,
Father or
husband’s name, 
address
If it is rented 
to some other 
farmer, their 
name and rent 
received
Area cultivated 
this year
Crop
grown
Area Sec-
ond 
crop 
grown
Facilities
Area 
not 
culti-
vated 
fallow 
land
NORTH
VILLAGE - AMARPURA
PATWARI RECORD - 16
1
4
6
5
2
3
8
7
Sketch map – not to scale
Legand
Boundary
Well
Grassland
Kachcha road
Pakka road
Tree
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   45 14-11-2022   04:30:19 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
46 / Social and Political Life
and keeping track of all this is the 
work of the revenue department 
of the government. Senior people 
in this department supervise the 
Patwari’s work.
All states in India are divided 
into districts. For managing matters 
relating to land these districts are 
further sub-divided. These sub-
divisions of a district are known 
by different names such as tehsil, 
taluka, etc. At the head is the 
District Collector and under her are 
the revenue officers, also known 
as tehsildars. They have to hear 
disputes. They also supervise the 
work of the Patwaris and ensure that 
records are properly kept and land 
revenue is collected. They make sure 
that the farmers can easily obtain a 
copy of their record, students can 
obtain their caste certificates etc. 
The Tehsildar’s office is where land 
disputes are also heard.
A daughter’s wish
Father inherited our house 
from his father
And everyone says he’ll 
leave it to brother
But what about me and my 
mother?
To expect a share in my 
father’s home,
Is not very womanly, I am 
told.
But I really want a place of 
my own,
Not dowry of silk and gold.
(Source: Reflections on MY FAMILY, 
Anjali Monteiro,TISS)
Farmers often require a copy of their land’s 
record together with a map, as shown in 
the previous illustration. They have a right 
to this information. They may have to pay a 
small fee for this.
However, this information is not easily made 
available and farmers sometimes have to 
face many problems to get it. In some states, 
records are now being computerised and also 
kept at the Panchayat office so that they are 
more easily available and regularly updated.
When do you think farmers may require a 
copy of this record? Study the following 
situations and identify the cases in which 
these records would be necessary and why.
*  A farmer wants to buy a plot of land from 
another.
*  A farmer wants to sell her produce to 
another.
*  A farmer wants a loan from the bank to dig 
a well in her land.
*  A farmer wants to purchase fertilizers for 
his field.
*  A farmer wants to divide his property 
among his children.
Unit_III Ch 5.indd   46 14-11-2022   04:30:21 PM
Rationalised 2023-24