'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎93r] (190/502)

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SCHEDULE No. 11.—
B emarks.
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Petition from Patels of village of Biyal in
the Dehegam Pergunnah,
Umreili Purgunnah. —Petitionfrom Patel
Narrayen Guva, representative of
Eyots of the four
named Umreili,
and Korinar,
Mahals of Umreili,
Dhari, Damnagar,
iers.
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Nowsari PurgVynnah.—Tetition of Ryots
of Yirawul, Powtia^ and Chapra villages
of the Nowsari Purofunnah,
29
Petitioners complain that the assessment on Government land
has been raised from Rs. 1,400 to 1^950; and on Salamee land
from Rs. 1,800 to Rs. 3,025 ; also that numerous other cesses,
such as Inam Commission, Gadi Nuzerana, &c., are imposed ;
also that torture is employed to collect the revenue.
The petitioner complains that his father settled nearly all the
villages in the four Mahals in the year Sumvut 1864^
and that the assessment was then fixed at a certain rate,
payable partly in cash and partty in coin, The assessment
so fixed was in force for about 60 years, but in the year Sumvut
1920 ( a.d . 1863-64) it was considerably increased without any
reason whatever. Petitioner also complains of the Gadi
Nuzerana cess, and states that 300 families have deserted to
the Junaghur State in consequence of the oppression to which
they are subjected.
Petitioners complain that the assessment on the different lands
in their villages has been raised from Rs. 3 to Rs. 15, 18, and
28, and that they are unable to pay it.
Petition of representatives of village of Petitioners complain that they are unable to pay the present
30
Shinada, in Purgunnah Teemba, under
Nowsari.
Seven petitions from inhabitants of village
of Wuriav,
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81
Kuri Purgunnah,—-In continuation
case 15—
Petition from GirdhurKeval and 5 others
on behalf of the Ryots of the Kuri
Purgunnah,
assessment and also complain of the levy of additional cesses.
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Petitioners,who are women, complainthat although their husbands
are dead or absent, and they have no one to cultivate the land
entered in their husbands' names, yet they are still compelled
by Government to pay the assessment on their husbands'
former holdings and are forbidden to resign ; some of the peti
tioners having deserted, have been forcibly compelled to return,
and have been subjected to all kinds of ill-treatment,
of Petitioners complain that numerous persons wish to come forward
and state their grievances, but that they have been forcibly
prevented by the Government. They assert that all the local
officials have paid Nuz'erana for their appointments and have
to recoup themselves from the ryots. They complain of the
weight of the assessment and pray that it may be reduced
in consequence of the fall in prices. They also complain of
the Gadi Nuzerana and of the Inam Commission cesses, and
assert that persons have commenced to desert their villages.
It seems important to bring to the notice of the Commission, with
reference to the alleged oppression and misrule in the Gaek-
war State, that it has been the subject of correspondence with
Government since 1867-68, and that in November 1870 the
Government of India forwarded an anonymous petition from
the oppressed ryots of all the Mahals of His Highness the
Gaekwar's territory to the Bombay Government, with the fol
lowing remarks a Although the petition is anonymous,, His
Excellency in Council would be glad to be favoured with the
opinion of the Bombay Government whether there is reason to
believe that there is any, and, if so^ what degree of truth in
the statement which it contains." The revenue complaints
now submitted embrace the period referred to in that peti
tion, which was sent to Baroda about the time of His
Highness K.hunderow's death ; they also embrace the period
from November 1870 to the present time.
In reply to the Bombay Government letter No. 3107, dated 7th
October 1870, on this subject, inquiring whether the ryots
suffered any oppression under the then system of Government,
Colonel Barrreported as follows :—^That he had in vain endea
voured to discover whence the petition then returned, purport
ing to be from the ryots of His Highness the Gaekwar, had
emanated, nor from close inquiry had he any reason to believe
that they (the ryots) suffer oppression generally under the
present system of Government/ ,