INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

RECENT FAMI.VES.
affected districts were determined on; the
necessary proclamations were published in the
bazaars of the country.
Government, in this famine, enunciated four
distinct principles on which it intended to act:
one of which was, that none but those who
were absolutely unfit for work should receive
food gratuitously; another was, that as the
object of relief operations was to prevent starvation,
and not to attract people to the works!
the scale of wages was tQ be the lowest possible.
This was a decided liberal advancement
on the policy adopted in 1837, for the helpless
were not to be left altogether to public
charity, irrespective of consequences. Government
notified that it would give the equivalent
of all donations, subscriptions, and gifts of
charity. During this famine, also, the first
appeal to the English public was made, and
the Lord Mayor of London obtained £30,000
for this object.
One feature is peculiar from its first appearance
during this famine-viz., the notice taken
by Government of Purdah N usheen * women
• I .... hidden from light.