Discuss why the colonial government in India brought in the following laws. In each case, explain how the law changed the lives of pastoralists : (i) Waste Land Rules (ii) Forest Acts (iii) Criminal Tribes Act (iv) Grazing Tax

Discuss why the colonial government in India brought in the following laws. In each case, explain how the law changed the lives of pastoralists : 

(i) Waste Land Rules (ii) Forest Acts (iii) Criminal Tribes Act (iv) Grazing Tax

Ans.

(i) Waste Land Rules :

(a) The British wanted to transform all grazing lands into cultivated farms and thus increase its land revenue.

(b) Colonial officials believed that all uncultivated land was *waste land’ that needed to be brought under cultivation. Therefore, Waste Land Rules were enacted in the mid-nineteenth century.

(c) Under these Rules, uncultivated land was taken over and given to selective individuals. These individuals were given various concession and encouraged to cultivate these lands. Some of them were made village headmen.

(d) In most areas the land taken over was actually the land used by the pastoralists which meant a decline in pastures.

(ii) Forest Act :

(a) The Forests Act changed the life of the pastoralists.

(b) They were prevented from entering many forests that had earlier provided valuable forage for their cattle.

(c) In the areas they were allowed to enter, their movements were regulated.

(d) For entry a permit was needed. The timing for their entry and departure was specified and the number of days they could spend in the forest was fixed.

(e) The permit specified the period in which they could be legally in the forests. Overstaying would led to imposition of fines.

(iii) Criminal Tribes Act :

(a) The British officials were suspicious of nomadic people. They wanted the rural people to live in the villages, in fixed places with fixed rights on particular fields.

(b) They felt that such a population would be easy to identify and control. Nomadic people were considered to be criminals. Therefore in 1871, the Criminal Tribes Act was passed.

(c) By this act, many communities of traders, craftsmen and pastoralists were stated to be criminal by nature and birth.

(d) These communities were expected to live only in notified village settlements. They were not allowed to move without permit. The village police kept a close watch on them.

(iv) Grazing Tax :

(a) In order to increase its revenue, the British introduced the Grazing Tax. Pastoralists had to pay a tax on every animal they grazed in pastures.

(b) In course of time, the collection system was made very efficient.

(c) The right to collect taxes was auctioned out to contractor who tried to extract a tax as high as possible in order to earn profit.

(d) By the 1880’s the government began to collect taxes directly from the pastoralists. Each of them was given a pass. To enter a grazing area, the pass had to be shown and the tax paid.