INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

RECENT FA1.lINES. 53
missioners * on the state of affairs. Having
directed attention to the unfavourable aspect of
the season, and to the distress that would overtake
the poor classes "if within the next ten
Jays there should not be an abundant and
general fall of rain," he adds, that" should this
favourable change not take place, each Commissioner
is hereby authorised to provide, in
the manner above indicated, for giving employment
to all those who are in need." The Board
of Revenue were at the same time warned that
suspensions, if not remissions of revenue, would
be necessary-which suggestion was, of course,
actea upon. These arrangements appear natural
enough, and of so common - sense a character,
that it may seem unnecessary to dwell upon the
subject. But compare the date of this sound
of alarm with the date on which the Orissa
famine of 1866 was recognised. It was not till
December of that year that relief-works were inaugurated;
and the~ we~e in a paralysed state
till May of the following year, when food importations
were sanctioned. Nay, listen to the
seq uel of this very famine. By the middle of
* The senior civii officers of a district.