Village Government In British India

The Village Government in British India by John Matthai is mainly an attempt to bring together the chief facts about village local government which have been noticed in Indian official publications. It presents a connected picture of the methods adopted by the village community to meet simple administrative needs and aims at showing how far the simple expedients have been retained or refashioned under British rule. It seeks to answer the question in what parts of this administration and to what extent are the local officers and institutions of the village community utilised.

The book gives an account of the systems of education, relief for the poor, sanitation, public works, watch and ward and administration of justice under the village government in British India.