Report of the Indian Famine Commission 1901

The Orissa famine may be regarded as the turning point in the history of Indian famines; for in the course of the enquiry conducted into it by the Commission presided over by the late Sir George Campbell - the foundations were laid of the humane policy which the Government. [...] We are directed to examine in the light of the fresh experience now gained the administration of relief in all its branches the cost of the recent operations and the extent of the mortality ; to consider what new problems have arisen and how far events confirm the wisdom or suggest the amendment of the recommendations made by the last Comission. [...] To take only a few—the rush on the works in the Buldana district of Berar and in the Chhattigarh Division of the Central Provinces and the complete disorganiztion of those works; the failure to open works at an early period of the distress in the Central Provinces; in Bombay the unreadiness of the Public Works Department in nearly all districts the system of weekly instead of daily payment [...] Much depends on the density of the population; but the question really hinges on the character of the people and the previous history of the tract. [...] If the people are habituated to famine or prompt to take relief the number of works may be comparatively few; but if on the other hand the people are strangers to famine or shy or reluctant to come on works as was especially the case in the Panch Mahals and Kaira districts of Gujarat the number of works should be multiplied at any rate in the early stages of the famine or until the hesitanc