Question
What was common financial pool of Panchayat during 16th-17th centuries? What was its importance?
Or
How did village panchayat use the funds available to it?Solution
Expenditure of panchayat was being run from that financial pool or treasury which was contributed by every individual. It was known as common financial pool of panchayat.
Importance : (i) This pool was used for the cost of entertaining revenue officials who used to visit the village from time to time.
(ii) This pool was used to pay salary to muqaddam and chowkidar.
(iii) This pool was used to meet expenses for community welfare activities like flood or any other natural calamity.
(iv) Often these funds were used for community works like construction of a bund or digging a canal which peasants were unable to afford on their own.
