DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24890#0168
The statistical results of the various forms whichthe
belief measures took have been duly exhibited, and it is not
necessary to repeat them here in detail. But by way of final
summary it may be said that the famine and scarcity extended
with various degrees of intensity over an area of more than
72,500 square miles with a population of 34£ millions.
Beyond this lay an area, coextensive with the Provinces, within
which the pressure of high prices fell heavily on all, and
particularly on the labouring classes.
The relief measures, Which commenced in Bundelkhand
in March 1896, continued till the middle of October 1897.
The number of persons who received support for one day
amounted to 304 millions of people in round numbers, or if
the relief given from the Indian Charitable Relief Pund he
included to about 334 millions, a total which is nearly equal to
the population of the United Kingdom, of India and the
* The Statesman’s Year-Book for 1897 Colonies.* This is equivalent to
gives the population of the United King- -. . o -. r\r\r\
doin of India and the Colonies as a daily average ot 1,688,000
34^,278,469. persons supported for six months.
The cost to the State (all charges included) amounts to two
crores and 17 lakhs of rupees or £1,400,000 at the present
rate of exchange. Each person supported represents a daily
charge to the revenues of 13 pies or '07 of a rupee.
The indirect loss in the remission of land revenue
has been already stated at 60 lakhs of rupees. The famine
has also had injurious effects in various other sources of
revenue, such as Excise, Stamps, and Income Tax. It will
not be possible to state the loss in these departments until
the year’s accounts are balanced; but the probability is that
it will be covered by about 25 lakhs.
Thus the direct and indirect cost of the Eamines of
1896.and 1897 to the Government of India may be put at
about three crores of rupees, or two million pounds sterling
at current rates of exchange.
In 1896 the death-rate for the United Provinces was
3332, and for the 12 months—October 1896 to September
1897—during which the famine prevailed, the rate was 36 30
per thousand of the population. The similar rate for the
previous decennial period was 33 04.
In these few figures is concentrated the history of a
series of great calamities mitigated by efforts which taxed all the
resources of the Government and all the energy, skill, and
devotion of its officers. They represent much suffering borne
with submissive patience and quiet endurance by the people,
and great difficulties overcome, under Providence, by the
unwearying toil, the humanity, and the patient resolution of
a great body of workers.
It is, perhaps, too soon to make a proper estimate of
the political effect of the measures by which Government
39
belief measures took have been duly exhibited, and it is not
necessary to repeat them here in detail. But by way of final
summary it may be said that the famine and scarcity extended
with various degrees of intensity over an area of more than
72,500 square miles with a population of 34£ millions.
Beyond this lay an area, coextensive with the Provinces, within
which the pressure of high prices fell heavily on all, and
particularly on the labouring classes.
The relief measures, Which commenced in Bundelkhand
in March 1896, continued till the middle of October 1897.
The number of persons who received support for one day
amounted to 304 millions of people in round numbers, or if
the relief given from the Indian Charitable Relief Pund he
included to about 334 millions, a total which is nearly equal to
the population of the United Kingdom, of India and the
* The Statesman’s Year-Book for 1897 Colonies.* This is equivalent to
gives the population of the United King- -. . o -. r\r\r\
doin of India and the Colonies as a daily average ot 1,688,000
34^,278,469. persons supported for six months.
The cost to the State (all charges included) amounts to two
crores and 17 lakhs of rupees or £1,400,000 at the present
rate of exchange. Each person supported represents a daily
charge to the revenues of 13 pies or '07 of a rupee.
The indirect loss in the remission of land revenue
has been already stated at 60 lakhs of rupees. The famine
has also had injurious effects in various other sources of
revenue, such as Excise, Stamps, and Income Tax. It will
not be possible to state the loss in these departments until
the year’s accounts are balanced; but the probability is that
it will be covered by about 25 lakhs.
Thus the direct and indirect cost of the Eamines of
1896.and 1897 to the Government of India may be put at
about three crores of rupees, or two million pounds sterling
at current rates of exchange.
In 1896 the death-rate for the United Provinces was
3332, and for the 12 months—October 1896 to September
1897—during which the famine prevailed, the rate was 36 30
per thousand of the population. The similar rate for the
previous decennial period was 33 04.
In these few figures is concentrated the history of a
series of great calamities mitigated by efforts which taxed all the
resources of the Government and all the energy, skill, and
devotion of its officers. They represent much suffering borne
with submissive patience and quiet endurance by the people,
and great difficulties overcome, under Providence, by the
unwearying toil, the humanity, and the patient resolution of
a great body of workers.
It is, perhaps, too soon to make a proper estimate of
the political effect of the measures by which Government
39