Lambardar (Numberdar) — The Backbone of Society and the Government System

The Lambardar (Numberdar) holds the status of a backbone in the society and the governmental system, who cannot perform his duties without hard work, courage and high character. He is the biggest representative of the government and the leader of the people at the village level.
As far as the second part of your question is concerned, this complaint has often been raised by public circles and Lambardars that the government has not provided the Lambardars with those rights and privileges which they deserve.
The details of the duties, role of a Lambardar and the attitude of the government are as follows:
How does a Lambardar perform his duties with courage, hard work and character?
A Lambardar demonstrates the following qualities to perform his duties:
– Not a job, but an honorary service: A Lambardar is not a regular salaried government employee, but it is an honorary and hereditary post. He manages the entire village only on the basis of his high character and family reputation.
– Collection of government tax (Chulha): With his hard work, he collects the government’s tax (Malia and Abiana) from every landlord of the village and deposits it in the government treasury.
– Law and order and bravery (Courage): In case of any crime, fight or suspicious activity in the village, he informs the police and administration. Standing up against criminals is a work of great courage.
– Reconciliation and dispute resolution: Being the elder of the village, he resolves people’s land, water and domestic disputes with his wisdom and impartial character, so that people can avoid the rounds of police stations and courts.
– Assistance to government officers: Whenever a government officer (Patwari, Tehsildar, or Police) comes to the village, the Lambardar guides and helps them.
Which rights and duties has the government not fulfilled? (Grievances of Lambardars)
The organizations of Lambardars have always maintained that the government treats them like a step-mother and does not give them their due status. The following shortcomings are seen from the government side:
– Nominal remuneration (Panchot): The Lambardar gets only 5 percent share (Panchot) on the collection of Malia, which is negligible in today’s era. The government has not fixed any regular monthly reasonable honorarium for them.
– Reduction in powers: With time, the powers of Patwaris and Police have increased and the importance of the Lambardar has been reduced, which has affected their traditional prestige.
– Lack of facilities: In Patwar Khanas or government offices, there is no place for Lambardars to sit, nor is any allowance given to them for travel or other official work.
– Promises of privileges not fulfilled: Governments have repeatedly promised that government land will be allotted to Lambardars, quota will be given to their children in jobs and they will get health cards, but most of these promises have not been implemented.
The government should mould the ancient and important system of Lambardar according to modern requirements, fix their monthly honorarium and provide them legal protection so that they can perform their duties more diligently.
Basic duties of a Lambardar in his area with courage, hard work, good character and honesty:
– Collection of Malia (Tax): Collecting land revenue and other dues for the government in rural areas is their basic responsibility.
– Maintenance of law and order: Helping the police and local administration to maintain peace in their village.
– Government representation: Acting as a bridge between the government and the public and implementing government orders in the village.
– Prevention of crimes: Immediately informing the concerned police station of any crime or suspicious activity in the village.
– Public welfare: Supporting the administration in development works, cleanliness and prevention of epidemics in the village.
The problem of Government and the rights of Lambardars
It is absolutely correct that many times governments have not done justice to Lambardars which they deserve. The following major complaints have been coming forward in this regard:
Lack of privileges and honorarium: The financial compensation (Pachotra or monthly honorarium) that Lambardars get in return for their hard work is extremely low or insufficient in terms of today’s inflation.
Lack of official patronage: In many areas, due to the modern administrative structure (like Patwari and direct system of police), the traditional role and respect of the Lambardar is not given the importance that it had in the past.
Violation of rights: Since Lambardars remain busy day and night in public and government works, governments have often not taken concrete steps to maintain their basic facilities, protection and social status.
Lambardars and Chowkidars in the hilly and remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir like Uri, karna tangdar kupwara  Reasi, Doda, Banihal, Narwah and Tangmarg:
In the hilly and remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir like Uri, Reasi, Doda, Banihal, Narwah and Tangmarg, the work of Lambardars and Chowkidars is extremely tough and challenging. These people are the strongest link at the ground level between the administration and the public, but despite this they are facing severe difficulties.
Nature of work and major problems:
– Administrative and revenue services: They work at the ground level for about 34 government departments. Verification of revenue records, helping Patwaris, and handling land matters is their basic responsibility.
– Pressure of digital and online system: According to the new guidelines of the Revenue Department, now it is mandatory for Lambardars and Chowkidars to be educated. In the modern era, all work has become online and digital, due to which their work has become more technical and difficult in hilly areas.
– Law and order and reporting: It is the responsibility of Chowkidars to deliver the record of any crime, suspicious activity, birth or death in rural areas to the concerned police station.
– Increasing burden of population: Due to increasing population, now hundreds of families come under one Lambardar and Chowkidar, due to which their work has spread more than before.
Severe difficulties faced in hilly areas:
Recently, the Jammu Kashmir Lambardar Chowkidar Association and local representatives have raised their voice at the cluster level to solve their problems. Their major demands and difficulties are:- Meagre Honorarium: In the present era of inflation, Lambardars are given a monthly honorarium of Rs. 1,501 and Chowkidars only Rs. 1,500. This amount is only Rs. 50 per day, which is much less than even a labourer’s daily wage. Due to this low income, they are unable to even pay their children’s school fees.
– Months of delay in salaries: In many tehsils of Doda and other hilly districts, even this meagre compensation remains delayed from 5 months to 1 year, which leads to starvation in their homes.
– Tough geographical conditions and travel expenses: In areas like Uri, karna .tangdar  Banihal and Doda, there is heavy snowfall and landslides during winters. To travel miles on foot on these hilly paths to deliver government orders or to go to the police station, they have to pay fare from their own pocket, because there is no travel allowance from the government.
– No policy and pension: After retirement at the age of 60, there is no monthly pension or social security policy for them. Even in case of an accident or death during duty, no proper compensation is fixed for the family.
Government assurances and current situation:
There has been a lot of protest on this matter during the recent budget session and public durbars. Various political leaders and organizations have demanded from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Lieutenant Governor that these employees be brought under the Minimum Wages Act so that they get a dignified salary and their problems are solved.