Question

Discuss why the colonial government in India brought in the following laws. In each case, explain how the law changed the lives of pastoralists:

Grazing Tax

Answer 1

Grazing Tax: This was introduced in the 1850s to increase the government’s revenue income. The pastoralists were also badly hit by the higher tax that contractors exacted from them in order to make some private profit. Pastoralists could not afford to pay tax on cattle per head, and the only means to enter a grazing tract was by payment. All this led to tremendous losses for them.