The Government Estates Manual East Pakistan Govt. 1958

Abstract

The end of the Permanent Settlement and the abolition oj Zamindari will not only have far-reaching effects, on the social aliid economic structure of East Pakistan, but 'have also ' confronted the administration with a colossal problem. The process of acquiring the interests of a vast multitude of Zamindars and the more numerous tenure-holders, etc., and bringing the actual cultivators into direct relationship with Government was from the beginning expected to be, to quote the Floud Commission, “a most formidable administrative undertaking, which will tax to the full all the resources of the Govemitrfsnt,” but the decision of the Government to acquire all rent-receiving interests oif a certain date instead of having the process “carried out gradually over a term of years” has vastly increased the size and the complexity of the administrative task. Naturally this has involved appointment of a large new staff, who, apart from the other training they g£t, will find a consolidated handbook of instructions very'useful. On the other hand the organisational set-up has not yet taken a final shape. '’"The-simultaneous acquisition of all rent-receiving interests and the need for carrying out settlement operations all over the Province along, with setting up of an agency for collection of Government dues, maintenance of village records and management of Government property; have necessitated some transitional arrangements, which will be terminated when position regarding the staff is easier. There will presumably be other changes and adjustments. when the new organisation is fully undej^ way. Time .is not, therefore, ripe for the publication of a Manual in anything like a final form, but this does not minimise the need for a handy book containing existing instructions^for the guidance of tlie officers and staff working in various Revenue Offices. Accordingly this Manual which is purely a provisional one, is being issued to meet the present requirements. This Manual has been prepared mainly on the basis of the Government Estates Manual, 1932, by Mr. S. A. Majid, Adviser to the Board of Revenue, and Mr. S. A. Salam, Special Officer. Chapter V on Accounts has been revised by Mr. L. Khabif, Controller of Accounts. These officers have tried to make it as accurate and up-to-date as possible, but they have done this work in addition to other duties, and there may be, some omissions or slips. All suggestions for improvement of the Manual will be most welcome. This Manual was completed last year and sent to the Press, but in tie meanwhile certain important questions, e.g., settlement of lands and policy, regarding Sairat Mahals were taken up by the Government, and it was thought advisable to hold up the publication till decisions on these questions could be incorporated in the Manual. This has been done now, and an attempt has been made to make the publication as up-to-date as possible.