Famine Commissions in India ~ UPSC History Notes

In 1865-66, a famine engulfed Odisha, Bengal, Bihar, and Madras and took a toll of 20 lakhs of lives with Odisha alone losing 10 lakh lives.
Since the famine was most severe in Odisha; it is called the Odisha famine.
It was followed by the appointment of a committee under the chairmanship of Sir George Campbell.
It blamed government machinery for the tragedy.
Sir John Lawrence was the Viceroy.

Great famine of 1876-78 was the most grievous calamity experienced since the beginning of the 19^th century.
Affected Madras, Bombay, Uttar Pradesh & Punjab and about 5 million people perished in a year.
The Government made half-hearted efforts to help the famine stricken.
In 1880, Lytton appointed a commission under Richard Strachey to formulate general principles and suggest measures of preventive or protective character.
Commission recommended adjusting wages from time to time to provide sufficient food for a labourer’s support.
Secondly, it should be the duty of the state to provide gratuitous relief to the poor and list the category of persons entitled to receive it.
It made suggestions regarding suspensions and remissions of land revenue and rents.
The cost of famine relief was to be borne by the provincial governments. However, central assistance was to be made available whenever necessary.
The Government accepted in general, and commission’s recommendation and steps were taken for the creation of a famine fund.
In 1883, the provisional famine code was formulated which formed a guide to and basis for the provincial famine codes.

Closely following the last famine came the famine of 1896- 97.
It affected almost every province though in varying degrees of intensity and the total population affected was estimated at 34 million.
A commission presided over by Sir James Lyall, ex-Lt Governor of Punjab, adhered to the views expressed by their predecessors in 1880.
Suggested some alterations to impart greater flexibility to the maxims then adopted. The commission recommended the development of Irrigation facilities.
Lord Elgin II was the viceroy.

Following famine of 1899-1900, Lord Curzon appointed a famine commission led by MacDonnell.
In its report in 1901, it summarized principles of relief suggesting variations wherever necessary.
The commission emphasized the benefits of a policy of moral strategy, early distribution of advances for the purchase of seed and cattle and sinking of temporary wells.
It also advocated the appointment of a famine commissioner in a province when relief operations were expected to be extensive.
Emphasized the enlistment of non-official assistance on a larger scale.
The commission also stressed the deniability of better transport facilities, opening of agricultural banks, improvement of irrigation facilities, and vigorous measures to faster improve methods of agriculture.
Most recommendations of the commission were accepted and before Curzon left India, he had taken various measures to prevent and combat famine.
However, most measures were conducted half-heartedly.