Sadavrata Tax Uses for Public Beneficial Works
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Characteristics of Beckett Settlement in Garhwal -6
British Administration in Garhwal -40
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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -57
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -894
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By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)
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In 1816, Traill suggested that the income from Sadavrata villages (temple villages) should be used for public works as improving roads for pilgrimages. However, government did not accept Traill suggestions keeping in mind the people sentiments.
Badrinath Temple Rawal died in 1817 and Badrinath temple committee of Kerala appointed Narayan Bhatt as Rawal or the chief priest of the temple by. There were misappropriation of temple properties by employees and there were incompetent temple workers under Narayan Bhatt temple administration. Traill took the temple administration and Sadvrata village administration under him. Traill appointed competent workers for Sadavrata village administration. There was saving from the income from Sadavrata villages. Traill used the saving for constructing roads and repairing old roads for pilgrimages.
In 1827-1828, Traill constructed, repaired Haridwar- Badrinath road through villagers without paying them their wages (Begar System). Traill himself surveyed and planned the road works and many times, he was caught in danger for the work. It took seven years for completing the road construction and repair works.
By 183, he completed the road construction and repairs from Rudraprayag to Kedarnath, Ukhimath to Chamoli, and from Karnaprayag to Chandpur –Lobha to Ruhelkhand. Later on,
Traill used saved money on widening the road.
The successors of Trail used savings from Sadavrata income for constructing and repairing Joshimath –Neeti, Almora –Lobha and Shrinagar to Nazibabad roads.
In 1851, British government handed over Sadavrata village management to local agencies. Government accepted the Strauchi report and fixed the budget for food for pilgrimages, pilgrim roads repair and construction, health care etc from the Sadavrata income.
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In Beckett settlement, the determined tax for Sadavrata villages was as under (Atkinson 308)-
Tax Barasyun Sadavrata villages - Rs. 420
Devalgarh--------------------------------Rs.189
Bamsu, Pakandi, Maikhanda-----------Rs.1449
Dashauli Pargna-------------------------Rs. 2115
Katauli, Saharydi(Kumaon) -----------Rs. 5880
Total --------------------------------Rs. 10013
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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 8/9/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -895
*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
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References
1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page-196-197
2-Beckett Garhwal Settlement report page 8
3- Atkinson, Himalayan districts vol.3, 308, and 309
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History of British Rule, Administration , Policies, Revenue system, over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; History of British Rule , Administration , Policies Revenue system over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system over Dehradun , Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, ,Revenue system over Bageshwar Kumaon, Uttarakhand ;
History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, Revenue system over Haridwar, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand;
