The Gazetteers Department

The government appointed a fact finding committee for a survey of scarcity areas of the state. It observed that some tahsils of Bhir district were reported to have suffered from scarcity in the past. The said committee recommended that Ashti, patoda and Manjlegaon tahsils and Pimpalner revenue circle of Bhir tahsil might be declared as scarcity areas in Bhir district.

Ashti, Patoda and Manjlegaon tahsils and Pimpalner revenue circle of Bhir tahsil were declared as [Vide Revenue Department Resolution No. SCY 5662/66592-J, dated 3rd January, 1963.] scarcity areas and classified as "C" class scarcity area.

The details of the occurrence of famines in Bhir district are given below: —

Natural calamities like floods and droughts prevailed in Bhir district in the years 1812, 1823, 1877, 1897, 1908 and 1913. The details of the scarcity conditions which occurred during these years are not available as the district during the period constituted a part of the then Hyderabad state. In the years 1919 to 1921 a disease which spread in the district took the toll of 8,391 persons.

In 1921 and 1922, the kharif crops had completely failed in the district and a good number of people and live-stock died due to non-availability of food and grass. Government then undertook famine relief measure? and imported wheat, rice and other food grains into the scarcity affected areas of the district and food grains were also distributed amongst the persons, who suffered during the famine. The government had also granted suspensions amounting to Rs. 7,55,782.13.0 in land revenue for Bhir district as against the demand of that year for Rs. 17,15,100.12.11. Government had granted Rs. 4,30,000 as tagai loans for wells. Rs. 1,55,000 had also been spent for providing meals to the helpless rayats. Government had also sanctioned Rs. 32,734 as tagai for fodder and Rs. 1,08,270 for seeds. In 1952-53 scarcity conditions existed in some villeges in Georai, Patoda and Manjlegaon tahsils. The government had started relief works, viz. approach roads in Manjlegaon, Patoda and Georai tahsils.

The ex-Hyderabad government had issued orders during the famine or scarcity conditions to withhold the recovery of tagai arrears fallen due for recovery in the year and this resulted also in granting postponement of collection of land revenue.