DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24890#0110
( 100 )
district into small charges of 500 to 700 persons, owing to
the cholera epidemic, which has already been referred to, and
the introduction of the “ Intermediate system ” of works
into all districts except Bundelkhand, Allahabad, and Hardoi.
The period between the 15 th April and the advent of the
rains in June was marked by a vast increase in the numbers
on relief works. The employment afforded by the spring
harvest ceased towards the end of April : and people who
were dependent on labour for their subsistence, and who had
saved but little from employment in gathering a very short
harvest, flocked back to the works. The pressure on the
establishment was renewed, and in the end of May nearly
reached the pitch it had attained in the end of February. But
this period produced no new developments calling for adap-
tations or adjustments of system or rules: the events were
repetitions of previous experience, although reproduced under
infinitely more trying circumstances of climate and general
health.
Towards the end of May it became necessary to pro-
vide for the advent of the rains, and on the 27th May general
orders were issued by Government touching the principles
which were to be observed when the rains commenced.
With the object of reducing all inducements to persons to
remain on relief works after the rains had commenced,
instructions were issued to stiffen rates and increase tasks
when labour in the fields once more became practicable.
The rains began in the third week of June and produced
an immediate effect on the number of labourers, which, in anti-
cipation of the advent of the monsoon, had previously shown a
tendency to fall. On the 19th June the number of labourers
and dependants was 942,000 in round numbers ; on the 26th
June the number had fallen to 417,775. Owing to the unfor-
tunate suspension of the monsoon rains during the first fort-
night of July, to which reference has already been made, the
numbers rose again, and on the 10th July stood at 465,161;
but on the re-establishment of the monsoon about 12th
July the numbers again rapidly fell: so that by the end
of July they stood at 92,511, and it was possible to close the
departmental relief works in 19 out of the 86 districts which
were distressed or under observation. About the same time it
was found possible to calculate the wage rate in the most
distressed districts on the basis of a price current of 12 seers
of food grain per rupee instead of 10 seers as previously, and
to reduce the staff materially.
During the period from the 1st of August to the 15th
September works remained open in 17 districts, and consisted
mainly of Tcankar collection and stone quarrying, the number
on the last Saturday of August being 23,795 and on the 15th
of September 7,268 persons. After the Lieutenant-Governor
had visited the distressed divisions in July, orders were issued
district into small charges of 500 to 700 persons, owing to
the cholera epidemic, which has already been referred to, and
the introduction of the “ Intermediate system ” of works
into all districts except Bundelkhand, Allahabad, and Hardoi.
The period between the 15 th April and the advent of the
rains in June was marked by a vast increase in the numbers
on relief works. The employment afforded by the spring
harvest ceased towards the end of April : and people who
were dependent on labour for their subsistence, and who had
saved but little from employment in gathering a very short
harvest, flocked back to the works. The pressure on the
establishment was renewed, and in the end of May nearly
reached the pitch it had attained in the end of February. But
this period produced no new developments calling for adap-
tations or adjustments of system or rules: the events were
repetitions of previous experience, although reproduced under
infinitely more trying circumstances of climate and general
health.
Towards the end of May it became necessary to pro-
vide for the advent of the rains, and on the 27th May general
orders were issued by Government touching the principles
which were to be observed when the rains commenced.
With the object of reducing all inducements to persons to
remain on relief works after the rains had commenced,
instructions were issued to stiffen rates and increase tasks
when labour in the fields once more became practicable.
The rains began in the third week of June and produced
an immediate effect on the number of labourers, which, in anti-
cipation of the advent of the monsoon, had previously shown a
tendency to fall. On the 19th June the number of labourers
and dependants was 942,000 in round numbers ; on the 26th
June the number had fallen to 417,775. Owing to the unfor-
tunate suspension of the monsoon rains during the first fort-
night of July, to which reference has already been made, the
numbers rose again, and on the 10th July stood at 465,161;
but on the re-establishment of the monsoon about 12th
July the numbers again rapidly fell: so that by the end
of July they stood at 92,511, and it was possible to close the
departmental relief works in 19 out of the 86 districts which
were distressed or under observation. About the same time it
was found possible to calculate the wage rate in the most
distressed districts on the basis of a price current of 12 seers
of food grain per rupee instead of 10 seers as previously, and
to reduce the staff materially.
During the period from the 1st of August to the 15th
September works remained open in 17 districts, and consisted
mainly of Tcankar collection and stone quarrying, the number
on the last Saturday of August being 23,795 and on the 15th
of September 7,268 persons. After the Lieutenant-Governor
had visited the distressed divisions in July, orders were issued