A Village Accountant or Karanam (Andhra Pradesh), Patwari ( Punjab, West Bengal), Patowary (Assam), Talati (Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra), Lekhpal (Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand) is a government role in rural areas of the Indian subcontinent. Introduced during the early 16th century, it was maintained by the British Raj. The official, as a representative of the state, is responsible for keeping land records, agricultural records and collecting taxes and acting as the revenue police in certain areas where they were given special jurisdiction.

A Village Accountant, known by various names across different states—Karanam in Andhra Pradesh, Patwari in Punjab and West Bengal, Patowary in Assam, Talati in Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, and Lekhpal in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand—is a crucial government official responsible for land administration in rural India.

This position, introduced as early as the 16th century and formalized under British rule, continues to play a vital role in the Indian land revenue system.

Key Responsibilities of a Village Accountant:

Maintaining Land Records: Documenting land ownership and usage at the village level.

Agricultural Record Keeping: Updating crop cultivation details, crop types, and irrigation methods.

Tax Collection: Assisting in the collection of land and agriculture-related taxes.

Revenue Police Role: In specific areas, Village Accountants act as revenue police officers with limited enforcement powers.

Supporting Government Schemes: Verifying land and family details for distributing subsidies, loans, and welfare benefits.