DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24890#0108
( 98 )
The largest number employed on the same day was
1,064,124 workers and 261,826 dependants, or a total of
1,825,950, more than nine-tenths of the dependants being
children under seven years of age. The largest number em-
ployed on any one day not being necessarily the same day was
as shown below. The figures are given with the object of
indicating the greatest pressure in each circle :—
The first period of the famine was mainly pre-
paratory ; hut at the end of November the following mine
districts had become distressed : Allahabad, Hamirpur,
Banda, Jhansi, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Bae Bareli, Sitapur, and
Hardoi, while several other districts were under observation.
In the 3rd Additional Circle, in which over one-half of
the persons on relief works in the Province were employed*
the Public Works permanent staff was familiar with the
system to be followed, having learnt the lesson in Bundel-
khand in the previous spring and summer : and there was no
difficulty there in commencing works wherever and whenever
required. The tools and plant which had been procured for the
famine in the earlier part of the year were more than ample
for the present requirements. In other districts the staff
generally had not had the advantage of previous experience
but they were, so far as possible, leavened with experienced
men, they soon settled down to the work, and no difficulty was
found in providing work as required, especially as in the
beginning the influx of distressed people was gradual. After-
wards the advent of people to the works was more difficult to
deal with, being marked by rushes, numbering many thou-
sands, at one time and place. To provide a sufficient staff
for such conditions the plan was adopted of appointing sub-
ordinates as supernumeraries to charges in operation, in order
to enable them to acquire the requisite experience. Having
been taught, they were drafted for employment at all points
of pressure.
The second period of the famine, 1st of December 1896
to the end of February 1897, was that in which the greatest
strain was felt by the Public Works Department. The number
of distressed districts rose to 19 and the number of persons,
on relief works increased daily, corresponding additions being
from time to time made to the subordinate staff. The greatest
difficulty was experienced in connection with the sudden rushes,
of large number of distressed persons to works in particular
districts and parts of districts, to which allusion has already
been made. For example, in the Allahabad district there was
a rush of nearly 60,000 people in a few days. This caused
an intense strain, the nature of which may be judged from
1st Circle
2nd Circle
3rd Circle
94,154
451,000
143,471
777,016
3rd Additional Circle
The largest number employed on the same day was
1,064,124 workers and 261,826 dependants, or a total of
1,825,950, more than nine-tenths of the dependants being
children under seven years of age. The largest number em-
ployed on any one day not being necessarily the same day was
as shown below. The figures are given with the object of
indicating the greatest pressure in each circle :—
The first period of the famine was mainly pre-
paratory ; hut at the end of November the following mine
districts had become distressed : Allahabad, Hamirpur,
Banda, Jhansi, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Bae Bareli, Sitapur, and
Hardoi, while several other districts were under observation.
In the 3rd Additional Circle, in which over one-half of
the persons on relief works in the Province were employed*
the Public Works permanent staff was familiar with the
system to be followed, having learnt the lesson in Bundel-
khand in the previous spring and summer : and there was no
difficulty there in commencing works wherever and whenever
required. The tools and plant which had been procured for the
famine in the earlier part of the year were more than ample
for the present requirements. In other districts the staff
generally had not had the advantage of previous experience
but they were, so far as possible, leavened with experienced
men, they soon settled down to the work, and no difficulty was
found in providing work as required, especially as in the
beginning the influx of distressed people was gradual. After-
wards the advent of people to the works was more difficult to
deal with, being marked by rushes, numbering many thou-
sands, at one time and place. To provide a sufficient staff
for such conditions the plan was adopted of appointing sub-
ordinates as supernumeraries to charges in operation, in order
to enable them to acquire the requisite experience. Having
been taught, they were drafted for employment at all points
of pressure.
The second period of the famine, 1st of December 1896
to the end of February 1897, was that in which the greatest
strain was felt by the Public Works Department. The number
of distressed districts rose to 19 and the number of persons,
on relief works increased daily, corresponding additions being
from time to time made to the subordinate staff. The greatest
difficulty was experienced in connection with the sudden rushes,
of large number of distressed persons to works in particular
districts and parts of districts, to which allusion has already
been made. For example, in the Allahabad district there was
a rush of nearly 60,000 people in a few days. This caused
an intense strain, the nature of which may be judged from
1st Circle
2nd Circle
3rd Circle
94,154
451,000
143,471
777,016
3rd Additional Circle