INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

102 FINANCIAL AND OTHER RESULTS
call for some remark. The question, of course,
suggests itself-Is" fault or misfortune" to be
debited with the disastrous results? and, Have
we any lessons to gather therefrom? It is clear
that we cannot substantiate the charge of niggardly
expenditure in either case; but bad
administration must be admitted in the case of
Orissa. That Orissa had its own share of misfortunes-in
the shape of no communications,
and little or no preventive resources, as afforded
by canals, and suchlike - is quite certain.
Wit.h regard to the Ajmere famine, there is
nothing to show that any charges of maladministration
can be substantiated. Misfortune
must be charged with all the dire results.
The lesson taught is, that irrigation schemes
and communications should be inaugurated.
Both these provinces, as already noticed, were
in a manner isolated - they were the shipwrecked
crews labouring within sight of land
in a heavy sea, where an insufficient number
of life-boats could reach to aid them. New
schemes both of communication and irrigation
are now being carried out to ward off similar
disasters in Orissa. In Rajputana, vast irri-