1. Why there was a quarrel in the village?

Mohan 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. 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. 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 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 also told the
people that he would send a constable the next day to investigate the incident.

2. Is there any problem faced by Rural Police Station? If yes, what?

There are a numerous problems been faced by the working of the rural Police Stations like:-
lack of proper infrastructure, absence of essential minimum needs and facilities for the staff,
lack of proper equipment, insufficient residential accommodation of the staff, absence of
quicker modes of transportation and communication and lesser salaries.

3. List some of the responsibilities of the police.

The following are some of the responsiblities of police:-
Maintaining the dignity of the individual by safeguarding his/her fundamental rights.
Implement the law impartially.
Investigating crimes and the arrest offenders.
Maintaining a feeling of security in the community.
Protection of weaker sections of the society.
Helping in natural calamities, emergencies and disasters as the first responders.
Retaining the effective working relations with every sub system of criminal justice system.

4. Describe the duties of a Patwari.

Patwari is responsible for a group of villages. Measuring land and keeping land records is the
main work of the Patwari.
His other duties include:
Maintaining and updating the records of the village.
The land maps and the corresponding details are kept by the Patwari.
Organising the collection of land revenue.
Providing information to government about crops grown in the area.
Reporting the crime to the police. The role of the Patwari is important in an investigation. The
record of the Patwari helps the police to find out which person has extended his bund from
the original boundary.

5. Why updating records by Patwari important ?

 Updating records are important because farmers may change the crops grown on their fields
or someone may dig a well somewhere 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.

6. Why do you think farmers may require a copy of his land record?
Farmers may get a copy of their land’s record together with a map by paying a small fee.
They may require this copy due to the following reasons:
To sell or buy the land.
To get loan from the bank to dig well or buy tractor etc.
To divide their property.

7. How can the land records of the Patwari help in the mutation of a land? Or, Write a short note
on Khsra report.
The khasra record of the Patwari gives information regarding the plot of land owned by the
people. The Patwari plays the key role in the land record system in the villages. On the
Khasra map the exact shape and size of every field, every well and every large tree can be
identified. Every field is numbered and the khasra records the name of the actual cultivator,
the one who was in physical possession of the field.

8. How are states divided for managing land matters?

States of India are divided into districts. For managing matters relating to land, these districts
are further sub-divided, which are known by different names such as Tehsil, Taluka, etc.
District collector is the head of a district. He is in charge of revenue collection and
administration of a district. Under him are the Revenue Officers, also known as the
Tehsildars.

9. What are the duties of a Tehsildar?:

He hears disputes.
He supervises the work of Patwaris.
He ensures that records are properly maintained by Patwaris and revenue is collected.
He ensures that farmer gets copy of his records.
He issues caste certificates to students.
Land disputes are also heard by a Tehsildar.

10. Describe the wish of a daughter.

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.

11. What issue is the poem trying to raise? Do you think this is an important issue? Why?
The poem is trying to raise the issue of inheritance of daughters and mothers in the property
of their father/husband.
I think this issue is an important issue as daughters after marriage are harassed for more
dowry and money as they do not inherit a share in’ the property of their father or husband.
If they inherit their father’s property they can do enough to meet both ends.
No inlaws’ family would harass them for dowry if they inherit a share in the property of their
husband.

12. Describe the provisions of Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005.

Provisions of Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005.
Till the amendment women did not have the right to share family’s agricultural land.
After the death of father his land was distributed among his sons only.
According to New Law:
 Sons, daughters and their mother get equal share in the land.

 The law applies to all the states and union territories.

 Patwari will transfer the land to all sons, daughters and their mother and record their names

in the revenue records.

 Extra questions

13. What is the "Minimum Needs Programmes"?

The Minimum Needs Programme was introduced in the first year of the Fifth Five Year Plan.
The objective of the Programme was to set up a network of basic services and facilities of
social consumption in all the areas upto nationally-accepted norms, within a particular time-
frame. The programme is intended to assist in raising living standards and in reducing the
regional disparities in development. The basic needs of the people accredited for this
programme are elementary education, adult education, rural health, rural roads, rural
electrification, rural housing, environmental improvement of urban slums and nutrition.

14. What attributes are required for the police to carry out their jobs effectively?
Courage, confidence, sympathy for victims of crime and weaker sections, capacity to
withstand extended working hours, stress management, respect for law, and cool
temperament are some of the attitudes needed by the police officers to carry out their jobs
effectively.

15. What was the objective of the "Minimum Needs Programmes"?

The objective of the Programme was to set up a network of basic services and facilities of
social consumption in all the areas upto nationally-accepted norms, within a particular time-
frame.

16. Explain the revenue functions of the District Collector.

The Collector is the principal Revenue Officer and Head of the Revenue Administration in the
district. He exercises appellate jurisdiction in revenue cases. The recovery of arrears of land
revenue in respect of all Departments is the responsibility of the Collector.

17. What are the functions of the District Collector?

The main functions of the District Collector are as follows- Collector is in charge of law and
order administration in the district. He/She performs the supervisory role over the Police
Administration. He/She advises the Government on various aspects of law and order. He is
the pivotal figure in carrying out the developmental programmes.

18. How technology can help the land record department?

In today's world technology such as computers, mapping software and GIS (geographic
information system) software had done wonders to the land records department. The data is
easily available to the people and is regularly updated.

19. The Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005 rectify which types of inequalities?
The 2005 Act rectifies various gender inequalities persisting on several fronts such as
agricultural land, Mitakshara joint family property, parental dwelling house, and certain
widow's rights. In the new law sons, daughters and their mothers can get equal share in the
land. This law benefitted a large number of women in achieving their property rights.

20. How do women benefit under the Hindu Succession Amendment Act -2005(the new
law)?
According to this law, women in India can get a share in the family's agricultural land. The
daughter is allotted the same share as is allotted to a son. The government passed this act to
remove gender discriminatory provisions in the Hindu Succession Act of 1956.

21. Why it is necessary to register the FIR in the local area police station?
One has to register the FIR (First Information Report) in the police station that comes under
their area. Every police station has an area that comes under its control. People living in that
area can report the police about any theft, accident, injury etc. It is the duty of the police of
that station to enquire, to investigate and take action on the cases within its area.

22. What are the functions of the Tehsildar?

Tehsildar of a district is assigned to check the seasonal conditions of crops and listen to the
difficulties of the cultivators. He also tour the areas affected by the natural calamities like
flood, drought, earthquake etc. and provide relief to the people. On his return from village
tour, he prepares reports and recommends it to the government regarding the relief fund to
the affected people. He is assisted by a Naib Tehsildar in his work.

23. How do women benefit under the new law of succession?

The new law of succession - Hindu succession Amendment Act, 2005. In the new law, sons,
daughters and their mothers can get an equal share in the family property.
24. What are the objectives of the "Minimum Needs Programmes"?
The objective of the Programme was to set up a network of basic services and facilities of
social consumption in all the areas upto nationally-accepted norms, within a particular time-
frame.

25. Who is a Chowkidar?

'Chowkidar' in a village keeps birth and death record and also works as a messenger
between people and gram Panchayat or any government agency related with the welfare of
the village.

26. Name the public services that are available in the villages of India?
The public services that are available in the villages of India are the milk society, the fair price
shop, the bank, the police station, the agricultural society for seeds and fertilizers and the
post office etc.

27. Why it is necessary to register the FIR in the local area police station?
One has to register the FIR (First Information Report) in the police station that comes under
their area. Every police station has an area that comes under its control. People living in that
area can report the police about any theft, accident, injury etc. It is the duty of the police of
that station to enquire, to investigate and take action on the cases within its area.

28. How does the Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005 helped women in India to get
equal share in the family property?
The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 is a landmark in the way to women
empowerment. It came into force on 9thSeptember 2005. The Act removes gender
discriminatory provisions in the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 and gives equal rights in
inheritance to daughters. This means daughter has the same right over the property as a son.
The act states that daughters will have the same rights as sons to reside in or seek partition
of the family house. Economically, it can improve women's security by giving them birth right
in property. All this shows that daughters and sons are equally important members of the
family.