316 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
(2) VILLAGE OFFICERS
- The Village Officers were divided into the following sub-divisions : (i) Those useless both to Government and to the Community.
(ii) Those useful to the Village Community.
(iii) Those useful to Government.
- Those useless both to the Government and to the Community —This Class of lnams comprised of village servants such as the Potdar, who, besides being a village Silversmith used to assay all the money paid, either to Government or to individuals or the Chaugula, who was a kind of Assistant to the Patel and also had care of the Kulkarni’s record. On the commutation of their Inams, lands held by this class of servants were settled on the following terms :—
(i) In the Old Provinces – the full survey assessment was imposed.
(ii) In the New Provinces – half of the full survey rate was taken.
In both areas, the lands were converted into transferable freehold.
- Those useful to the Village Community —This class of Inam comprises village servants, such as Kumbhars, Sutars, etc., who still perform services to the village community. The settlement arrived at in their case was as follows : (i) In the Old Provinces – The lands held were assessed at either half or quarter of the Survey assessment according as the service performed was more or less useful to the community.
(ii) In the New Provinces - The land held was assessed at quarter the assessment.
The lands of this class of Village Officers being held subject to service, were made non-transferable.
- The annual loss sustained by Government on account of the settlement made with this class of village servants will be clear from the figures given below :