Why did the British introduced ‘Wasteland Rules’?
To colonial power, all uncultivated land appeared to be unproductive. It produced neither revenue nor agricultural produce.
Thus, it was seen as ‘wasteland’ that needed to be brought under cultivation. From the mid-19th century, ‘Wasteland Rules’ were enacted in various parts of our country.
By these rules, uncultivated lands were taken over and given to select individuals. These individuals were granted various concessions and encouraged to settle on these lands.
Some of them were made headmen of villages in the newly cleared areas. Thus wastelands gradually transformed into cultivated lands. The Colonial Government imposed tax on these lands and earned revenue from these lands.