Over 700 Settlement Patwaris in Rajasthan are dissatisfied due to the lack of a transfer policy, depriving them of promotions and better opportunities, which is increasing their discontent.
In Rajasthan, the work of important departments like Revenue, Colonization, and Settlement depends on Patwaris. While the Revenue Board appoints Patwaris in these departments, the situation of Patwaris in the Settlement department remains concerning.
More than seven hundred Settlement Patwaris of the state are confined to a single department, which is increasing discontent among them.
The absence of a clear transfer policy for Settlement Patwaris is the main reason for their dissatisfaction. In matters of promotion and seniority, they have been merged with other Patwaris at the state level, but when it comes to transfers, there is no policy for them.
In 2019, the post of Amin in the Land Management Department was abolished and the post of Patwari was created. Subsequently, all 41 districts of Rajasthan were consolidated into 11 offices, and more than seven hundred Patwaris were appointed.
These Patwaris are being tasked with the work of an Amin, which is different from the work of a general Patwari. These Patwaris perform important tasks like assessing land conditions, their settlement, and accurate map revisions, but they will hardly ever be able to reach the post of Tehsildar.
A major question is why, when the Revenue Board handles the transfers of general Patwaris, the transfers of Settlement Patwaris are handled by the Settlement Commissioner only within those 11 offices?
The Revenue Department had merged the cadre of all Patwaris on February 25, so why is this double standard being adopted in the transfer policy? Therefore, implementing an inter-cadre transfer system is extremely necessary.
The Rajasthan Patwar Sangh has taken up this issue seriously. The Sangh has demanded from the Rajasthan Revenue Secretary, T. Ravikant, that all Patwaris of the Revenue, Colonization, and Land Management departments be treated as equivalent for transfers.
This will not only open up promotion avenues for them but also allow all three departments to benefit from their expertise.
On one hand, the 'Digital India Land Record Modernization Program' (DILRMP) is underway in the country, while on the other, the Patwaris doing this important work feel neglected.
Under this program, areas like Chomu in Jaipur, Amet in Udaipur, Pipar in Jodhpur, Siwana in Barmer, and Uniara in Tonk have gone online. The work of 'One to One Mapping' is also to be done in Rajasthan, in which the role of Patwaris will be crucial.
The seriousness of the state government towards the Settlement Department can be gauged from the fact that the department has neither a full-time Settlement Commissioner nor an Additional Commissioner. Both these important posts are held by officers on an additional charge basis, which naturally raises questions about the department's efficiency.
Settlement is a very important department, and taking it with full seriousness should be the first priority of the Revenue Department.
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