The Field Patwari plays a major role in Pakistan especially within the rural areas since he is the main record holder of records of land a very close link between the rural population and the government. Even now, the positions of the Field Patwari have not lost their significance in managing land and revenue affairs and adjustment to the latter has recently undergone some modernization.
Table of Contents
Who is a Field Patwari?
A Field Patwari is a revenue employee of the government or servant of the government whose function is to recorded or documented records of lands, collecting taxes on agricultural exercise in a particular village and to settle any disputes concerning the land. Although the term “Patwari” seems to have been inherited from the Mughal rulers, the British colonial set up has bequeathed this position to the contemporary Pakistani state structures.
The Field Patwari operates primarily in rural areas and plays a dual role:
- Administrative: The updating of records on the land, maintaining the correct maps and records of ownership of such land.
- Revenue Collection: Collection of land revenue in place by determining the yield of agricultural production.
What a Field Patwari is Supposed to Do
Maintenance of Land Records
A Field Patwari is supposed to maintain records of the land records of certain areas and is supposed to make regular compilations of updated records. This includes recording of ownership, tenancy, and cropping patterns in the official records available in the records to departments such as Jama Bandi and Khasra Girdawari etc. They serve the purpose of property boundaries, transfers, and property taxation.
Revenue Collection
While the Patwari sets levy depending on both area and crop yields, it plays the key role of revenue collection on behalf of the government.
Land Surveys and Mapping
The Patwari employs cadastral surveys to revise the village maps named as Shajra Nasb. These maps play a crucial role in giving a clear distinction of property and the identification of properties’ dispute.
Dispute Resolution
Answering to the first level of any dispute regarding land ownership, tenancy or any boundary issue, the Field Patwari works as an interface between the peasants and higher power structures.
Reporting Crop Yields
Field Patwaris record the crops output which is so useful in framing out the policies, the food security and to estimate the losses due to any natural disasters like floods or draughts.
Support of Land Dealings
He not only deals with the record of the land registration, but also records the sale and the inheritance as well.
The Features of the Modern Field Patwari in the System of Modern Governance
Perhaps it is important to understand that Field Patwari is not only an administrative officer who keeps records, but rather he is a liaison between government and rural people. Their work impacts:
- Agricultural Planning: This is the case since correct cropping pattern information facilitates development of proper agricultural policies.
- Disaster Management: It further posted Field Patwaris during floods or Drought so that they become the source for calculating the damages and disbursement of relief measures.
- Land Reforms: They are involved in the execution of government policies for instance in distribution of land to the black majority or subsidies to the growers.
Problems perceived by the Field Patwaris
Despite their significance, Field Patwaris face numerous challenges:
Manual Recordkeeping
Paper-based systems of record keeping are incomplete, highly likely to be interfered with and in some cases lost.
Workload
The following are the vulnerabilities that make it difficult for each Patwari to perform the following duties adequately: Each Patwari is in charge of more than one village as shown below:
Corruption and Accountability
This office is frequently accused of bribery and favoritism since touch points of rural demography proceed with Patwari for every issue related to land.
Lack of Modern Tools
Most of the Patwaris today work without the facility of modern surveying equipment and electronic systems, and hence they are not very efficient.
Historical Dispersion and Recent Changes in the Patwari System
In order to update the position of Field Patwari and to ensure greater transparency in the land management the government of Pakistan has embarked on a number of reforms.
Digital Land Records
Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have rightly introduced digital record systems for land records to minimize mistakes and corruption. Using such systems for example the Punjab land record authority one can access records online.
Use of GIS Technology
Some suggested Modern Inventory System Technologies with reference to GIS to replace traditional mapping for accurate demarcation and planning.
Training for Capacity Building
Seminars are also organized for the Field Patwaris to introduce them to latest techniques, methods and tools for managing records and documentation and for use of modern surveying instruments.
Accountability Measures
Measures have been put in place to increase the transparency of all the revenues collected for example through online payment.
Accessibility for Villagers
The physical offices known as the Field Patwaris have been reduced by establishing service centers to help the rural poor access their records much more easily.
Current Importance of the Field Patwari in Modern Pakistan
The Field Patwari is still a significant figure in the country’s governing bureaucracy, especially in the rural areas where land ownership is the only/recent asset among families. Their work supports:
- Economic Stability: The provision of adequate checks that enhanced land revenue collection contributes to the national income.
- Social Harmony: Managing triple-A and managing relationships for conflict prevention also requires good policies in mediating disputes and managing clear ownership records to avoid conflict.
- Rural Development: Offering correct information for infrastructures project activities and agriculture policies fosters the development of the rural sector.
Conclusion
The post of Field Patwari, though has its origin in British India, still holds endless importance to Pakistan. The contemporary changes, particularly the innovations in the information era, have improved this structure to provide for the requirements of the contemporary government. But what is more important, many problems that hinder the efficient work of healthcare facilities remain actual, for example, staffing and workload, corruption, and the utilization of innovative technologies.
Pakistan acknowledging the role of the Field Patwari and endorsing reforms can improve its administration, practice justice, as well as distribute fairness resources in rural areas.
FAQs:
Q:1 What is the duty nature of a Field Patwari in Pakistan?
A Field Patwari is assigned tasks of registering deeds in the records of rights, collection of agricultural revenue and settling disputes regarding land at the village level. These institutions play a very important role in bridging the government and the rural people.
Q:2 What must a Field Patwari do in order to maintain records of the land?
The Patwari keeps a record of changes in land possession and cropping patterns in records such as Jama Bandi and Khasra Girdawari records. They also prepare village maps (Shajra Nasb) in order to properly locate and document property boundaries.
Q:3 What is the new change or new reform in the Patwari system?
Some new developments are expanding the use of information technology such as the computerization of land registries, the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for mapping, the provision of online systems of revenue collection, and the establishment of the center where the public can access land information.
Q:4 What role does the Field Patwari play in the process of rural development?
by offering informational support for measuring agricultural needs, spearheading infrastructural development projects, and helping in the delivery of justice by arbitrating on land-related cases, Field Patwaris play a major role in Rural Governance and Development.
Q:5 But today what challenges are faced by Field Patwaris?
Some of the unique contents to emerge are workload, non-computerized records, lack of contemporary methods, and problems of corruption. Initiatives such as digitalization seek to address these problems to optimize operational speeds.