The Ryotwari Settlement of Thomas Munro

• The  Ryotwari Settlement introduced in 1820 also called as Munro system. Under this system, tevenue settlement, were made directly with the cultivators (ryots) who had tilled the land for generations. 

• Their fields had to be carefully and separately surveyed before the revenue assessment was made. This system was implemented in southern states of Indian British territories and instead of the idea of Permanent Settlement.

• It was tried on a small scale by Captain Alexander Read on some areas taken over by the Company after the wars with Tipu Sultan. 

• Subsequently developed by Thomas Munro, this system was gradually extended all over south India and the devised system came to be known as the ryotwar (or ryotwari ). Munro thought that the British should act as paternal father figures protecting the ryots under their charge.