Ryotwari System

• Ryotwari System was introduced by Thomas Munro in 1820.
• Major areas of introduction include Madras, Bombay, parts of Assam and Coorgh provinces of British India.
• In Ryotwari System the ownership rights were handed over to the peasants. 
• British Government collected taxes directly from the peasants.
• The revenue rates of Ryotwari System were 
• 50% where the lands were dry, and 
• 60% in irrigated land.
• Every peasant was held personally responsible for direct payment of land revenue to the government. However, in the end, this system also failed. 
• Under this settlement it was certainly not possible to collect revenue in a systematic manner. The revenue officials indulged in harsh measures for non payment or delayed payment. 

An official report by John Stuart Mill in 1857 explained the ryotwari land tenure system as follows. 

As John Stuart Mill was himself working for the British East India Company, the following quote will see the system from the British perspective:

• Under the Ryotwari System every registered holder of land is recognised as its proprietor, and pays direct to Government. He is at liberty to sublet his property, or to transfer it by gift, sale, or mortgage. He cannot be ejected by Government so long as he pays the fixed assessment, and has the option annually of increasing or diminishing his holding, or of entirely abandoning it. 
• In unfavourable seasons remissions of assessment are granted for entire or partial loss of produce. 
• The assessment is fixed in money, and does not vary from year to year, in those cases where water is drawn from a Government source of irrigation to convert dry land into wet, or into two-crop land, when an extra rent is paid to Government for the water so appropriated; nor is any addition made to the assessment for improvements effected at the Ryot's own expense. 
• The Ryot under this system is virtually a Proprietor on a simple and perfect title, and has all the benefits of a perpetual lease without its responsibilities, in as much as he can at any time throw up his lands, but cannot be ejected so long as he pays his dues; he receives assistance in difficult seasons, and is irresponsible for the payment of his neighbours. 
• The Annual Settlements under Ryotwari are often misunderstood, and it is necessary to explain that they are rendered necessary by the right accorded to the Ryot of diminishing or extending his cultivation from year to year. 
• Their object is to determine how much of the assessment due on his holding the Ryot shall pay, and not to reassess the land. 
• In these cases where no change occurs in the Ryots holding a fresh Potta or lease is not issued, and such parties are in no way affected by the Annual Settlement, which they are not required to attend.