Question

What problems did shifting cultivators face under British rule?

Answer 1

• British always had problems with shifting cultivators, as they were always moving for pasture lands.
• For administrative and economic reasons, the British government tried settling the jhum or shifting cultivators.
• However, settled plough cultivation did not prove to be helpful to these jhum cultivators.
• The British wanted the shifting cultivators to become peasant cultivators.
• The British thought it was easier to control and administer peasant cultivators than shifting cultivators.
• Hence, shifting cultivators faced problems when the company planned the land revenue system.