Rural Administration - Civics Notes for CBSE Class 6

Chapter 6: Rural Administration

Social Science - Civics Notes for CBSE Class 6

Chapter Summary

Introduction to Rural Administration: In rural areas, the government's role is crucial for maintaining law and order, keeping land records, and resolving disputes. This administration operates at the village, block, and district levels.
The Police Station: Every village or group of villages falls under the jurisdiction of a specific police station.
- The police are responsible for maintaining law and order in their area.
- People can report crimes, accidents, injuries, fights, or theft to the police station.
- The Station House Officer (SHO) is in charge of the police station and is responsible for investigating cases and taking action.
- Filing a First Information Report (FIR) is the first step in a police investigation.
The Patwari (Land Record Officer): A Patwari, also known as Lekhpal, Kanungo, Karamchari, or Village Officer in different regions, is responsible for several villages.
- Measuring Land and Keeping Records: The Patwari's main job is to measure land and keep accurate land records for the villages under his jurisdiction. This record is called a 'Khasra' and details who owns which plot of land, its size, and crops grown.
- Updating Records: They are responsible for updating these records when changes occur, such as a sale of land, construction on a plot, or changes in crop cultivation.
- Collecting Land Revenue: Patwaris also play a role in organizing the collection of land revenue from farmers for the government.
- Providing Information: They provide information to the government about the crops grown in the area.
The Tehsildar (Revenue Officer): Above the Patwari, at the Tehsil (or Taluka) level, are the Tehsildars.
- Supervision: Tehsildars supervise the work of Patwaris.
- Land Disputes: They hear disputes related to land.
- Certificates: They issue caste certificates and other certificates needed by students and others.
- Land Records: They provide copies of land records to the public.
- Revenue Collection: They ensure that land revenue is collected properly.
District Administration: A district is the largest administrative unit, further divided into sub-divisions like Tehsils/Talukas. The District Collector or District Magistrate is the head of the district administration, overseeing both revenue and law and order functions.
Need for New Laws: Laws are regularly updated to ensure justice and equality for all.
- Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005: This important act brought about significant changes in property inheritance laws for Hindu families. Previously, only sons could inherit ancestral property.
- Impact of the Act: According to this new law, daughters, along with their brothers and their mother, can now get an equal share in the ancestral property. This law applies to all states and union territories of India.

Questions and Answers

1. What is the work of the police?

Answer: The main work of the police is to maintain law and order, investigate crimes, and protect citizens within their jurisdiction. This includes registering complaints, investigating cases of theft, accidents, injury, fighting, etc., and ensuring that people follow laws. They are responsible for public safety and bringing offenders to justice.

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

Answer: Two things that the work of a Patwari includes are:

Measuring land and keeping records of land (Khasra) belonging to different people.
Updating these land records regularly to reflect changes in ownership or crops grown, and organizing the collection of land revenue.

3. What is the work of a Tehsildar?

Answer: The work of a Tehsildar includes:

Supervising the work of Patwaris.
Hearing and settling land disputes.
Issuing caste certificates and other certificates to students and others.
Providing copies of land records to people.
Ensuring that land revenue is collected properly and that farmers can easily obtain a copy of their land records.

4. What is the difference between the work of a police officer and a Patwari?

Answer: The main differences between the work of a police officer and a Patwari are:

Police Officer: Focuses on maintaining law and order, preventing and investigating crimes, and ensuring public safety. They deal with issues like theft, assault, accidents, and disputes that break the law.
Patwari: Primarily deals with land-related matters. Their work involves measuring land, maintaining and updating village land records (Khasra), collecting land revenue, and providing information about crops. They are concerned with property boundaries, ownership, and agricultural data.

5. Which are the different ways in which people in rural areas earn their living? Do you see any similarities or differences in their ways of earning a living in urban areas?

Answer:

Ways of earning a living in rural areas: People in rural areas primarily earn their living through agriculture (farming, growing crops), livestock rearing, fishing, forestry, and various small-scale cottage industries like pottery, weaving, carpentry, and working as agricultural laborers or daily wage earners.
Similarities with urban areas: Both rural and urban areas have people involved in small businesses, shops, services (e.g., teachers, doctors, drivers), and daily wage labor.
Differences with urban areas: The most significant difference is the dominance of agriculture and related activities in rural areas, which is largely absent in urban areas. Urban areas have a greater variety of jobs in manufacturing, large-scale industries, IT, corporate sectors, highly specialized services, and a formal employment structure. Urban livelihoods are less dependent on natural resources directly.

6. Discuss the main findings of the Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005. How has it helped women?