AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

FAMINES

Occurrence of famines is common in many parts of the country; though their frequency and extent of severity may vary from region to region.

Famine [This account is based on the information supplied by the office of the Collector, Satara district.] may be caused by excessive rains or by total failure of rains. The former is known as wet famine and the latter as dry famine. In Satara district famines are largely confined to the eastern part comprising Man, Phaltan and Khatav talukas and Khandala mahal. The rainfall in this region is not only meagre and precarious but is also unevenly distributed. In the far eastern parts of these talukas, sometimes, long spells of drought intervene between rainy days which results in the failure of crops in this region. Hence migration in search of employment during the season in order to supplement, the otherwise scanty means of livelihood becomes the annual feature of this tract. During the last five centuries and a half numerous famines took place in the district and their detailed account is given below [The account of famines between 1396 to 1877 is taken from Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Vol. XIX, Satara; and pertains to the former Satara District,].

1396-1408.

Its uncertain and scanty rainfall makes eastern Satara most liable to suffer from failure of crops. The earliest record of famine is the famous Durga Devi famine, which beginning in 1396, is said to have lasted twelve years and to have spread all over India south of the Narmada. The districts were emptied of their people, and for upwards of thirty years, a very scanty revenue was obtained from the territory between the Godavari and the Krishna [ Grant Duffs Marathas, p. 59.].

1460.

 The famine of 1460, which is known as the famine of Damaji Pant, is remembered over the greater Part of the Deccan [Col. Etheridge's Report on Past Families, 99.].

1520. 

In 1520, mainly owing to military disturbances, the crops in the Deccan were destroyed and a famine followed [Col. Etheridge's Report on Past Families, 100.].

1629-30.

In 1629-30 severe famine raged throughout the Deccan. The rains failed for two years causing a grievous loss of life [Elphinstone's History, 507.].

1791-92.

According to local tradition the famine of 1791-92 was the severest ever known. It seems to have come after a series of bad years, when the evils of scanty rainfall were aggravated by disturbance and war. The early rains failed entirely in the Bombay-Karnatak, were scanty in the Deccan and Gujarat, in Kathiawar and Marwar, and were deficient in the districts along the coast from Broach to Ratnagiri. In October rain fell abundantly, and the famine was ended by a good harvest in the spring of 1792. In Satara, the rupee price of Indian millet is said to have risen to six pounds (1 shers). The Government granted large remissions of revenue, the export of grain was forbidden, and the sale price was fixed. Rice was brought from Bengal to Bombay [Colonel Etheridge's Report on Past Famines, 55, 58, 96, 98, 122].

1802-03.

In local opinion the famine of 1802-03 came next in severity to the 1791-92 famine, ft was most felt in Khandesh, Ahmadnagar, Sholapur, Bijapur, and Dharwar; but it also pressed severely on Belgaum, Satara, Poona, Surat, and Kutch; elsewhere it was comparatively light. In 1802 rainfall was scanty, but in Satara the harvest would have been good or fair, but for the ravages of Yeshvantrao Holkar and his Pendharis who destroyed the early crops as they were coming to maturity and prevented the late crops being sown. This scarcity was followed by the failure of the late rains in 1803. The local loss and scarcity were increased by the inflow of starving people from the districts of the North Deccan where the failure of rain was more complete than in Satara. The result was that the famine was almost as severe in Satara as in the North Deccan. The pressure was greatest in July and August 1801, and was so grievous that, according to tradition, men lived on human flesh. Corn is said to have been sold at two pounds (1 sher) a rupee. About: 25,000 strangers are said to have flocked into the town of Wai, in the hope of obtaining relief from the liberality of the Pant Pratinidhi, Raste, and other wealthy families and no fewer than 10,000 persons are said to have died in the town of Wai alone. Abundance of water and plenty of grass, for the early rains (June-August 1803) had been abundant, did much to lighten the general distress."

1824-25.

In 1824-25 a failure of the early rains caused considerable and widespread scarcity. In Satara Indian millet prices rose to twelve[8 Colonel Etheridge's Report on Past Famines. 79, 80, 87, 97.] pounds (6 shers) the rupee.

1862.

In 1862 a scanty fall of rain in the early part of the season caused widespread scarcity. Grain prices were so high that grain compensation was granted to all Government servants whose monthly salaries were less than Rs. 200.[Colonel Etheridge's Report, 153.]

1876-77.

The scanty and badly distributed rainfall of 1876, thirty-nine compared with an average of fifty inches, led to failure of crops and  distress amounting to famine over about one-half of the district. [The estimate was in an area of 2,682 out of a total of 4,792 square miles, and in population 461,000 out of 1,062,350.] The east and south-east suffered most. As rain held off the early crops failed in Man, Khatav, and the greater part of Kolhapur and Tasgaon. In addition to this failure of the early rains, September and October passed with only a few showers and but a small area of late crops was sown. With high grain prices, millet at seventeen instead of thirty-five pounds [Thirty-five pounds of millet or bajri and thirty-nine pounds of Indian millet or jwari were the ordinary rupee prices.] and no demand for field work, the poorer classes fell into distress. The need for Government help began about the beginning of October. The grain-dealers withheld their stores and no grain was offered for sale. The distress and panic, especially among the lower orders of towns people, were so great that the Col-lector ordered Rs. 8,560 worth of jvari from Bombay. The arrival of the grain in November had the excellent effect of showing the grain dealers that they could not at one bound force prices to a famine level. As soon as the traders saw that Government were ready to import grain, they opened their shops and began to import on their own account. From December to March the pressure of distress was lighter as large supplies came into the district. In the hot months, with rising prices, the distress increased. The long period of dry weather in July and August forced grain prices still higher and caused much distress and suffering; but the plentiful and timely rainfall of September and October removed all cause of anxity. By the close of November the demand for special Government help had ceased.

The following details show, month by month, the various phases through which distress passed and the measures taken to relieve it. In September 1876 rain so completely held off that people could not prepare their fields for the cold-weather crops. The early crops failed in Man, Khatav, and the greater part of Khanapur and Tasgaon; elsewhere, except in Malcolmpeth where about the middle of the month there were a few good showers, the crops were withering. In Khatav, Khanapur, and Tasgaon, fodder was scarce and dear. At Satara grain prices rapidly rose till about the end of the month jvari fetched eighteen pounds the rupee. With want of field employment and such high grain prices, the loss caused by the failure of the early crops began to deepen into distress. Early in October there was a little rain at Wai, and on the 21st showers fell at Koregaon, Tasgaon and Islampur.

The early crops continued to wither, while throughout the district, except the shalu, the cold-weather crops were either not sown, or where sown were dying. Cattle were starving for want of of odder, and in Khatav and Man were being sold at nominal prices or given away. In some places the crops were cut down for fodder, drain importations had not begun and grain-dealers withheld their stores, Prices rose so high that the Collector thought it necessary to order grain from Bombay. Arrangements were also made with a Satara merchant to import grain for sale at a moderate profit. At Tasgaon grain was so difficult to buy that the Collector sent fifty cartloads of jvari from Satara. To help the import of grain the municipal dues in Satara and Tasgaon were suspended. Great commotion and clamour prevailed, especially among the Mahars, Mangs, and Ramoshis in Khatav and Tasgaon, and people began to leave the district. Thefts were frequent, and in Tasgaon, bands of the poorer classes assembled and demanded work. In the Collector's opinion, had not the arrival of Government grain forced the local dealers to bring forward their stores, these meetings would have turned into grain riots. To allay the disorder local funds works were opened, and, on the 17th, Government placed a sum of Rs. 25,000 at the Collector's disposal for charitable relief. In November only a few showers fell in Satara, Patan. and Man. Where they had been sown the late crops withered. In the south and east water was growing scarce. In Man the only supply was from holes dug in river beds. Grass and straw were very scarce, and in places even sugarcane was used for fodder. The grain ordered by the Collector arrived from Bombay through Chiplun. Its presence had a favourable effect and stimulated private imports of grain. To stimulate imports treasury orders on Bombay and other large towns were given to traders at par, and it was proposed to remit tolls on grain carts. The rupee price of jvari rose from eighteen pounds at the beginning of the month to sixteen pounds towards the close, and that of bajri from twenty lo seventeen pounds. There was much movement among the people, some leaving the district, others coining in large numbers from phaltan, Jath, Miraj, Sangli, and other neighbouring slates. Still, as most landholders had reaped some small harvest and did not seek relief until their stock of grain was finished, the pressure on the works was not great, the daily number of labourers rising from 1,000 in the beginning of the month to 11,414 at the close. Of 4,371, the average daily number for the month, 4,056 were able-bodied, expected to do a full day's work and superintended by public works officers, and 315 were aged or feeble, expected to do less than a full day's work and superintended by civil officers. [The original day's wages were, for a man 2. as., for a woman 1½ as. and for a boy or girl a. About the middle of November a sliding scale was introduced, providing that, when prices rose over sixteen pounds the rupee, the money rate should vary with the price of grain, and that a man should always receive the price of one pound of grain in addition to one anna.] Early in the month meetings were held at Satara and Tasgaon, and relief committees were formed. On the 9th Rs. 2,000, out of the Gaikwad's grant of Rs. 10,000 were placed at the Collector's disposal to be spent on alms.

About the end of the month cholera made its appearance. December passed without the rain and with no change in crop prospects. Grain importations continued, and the rupee prices fell for jvari from eighteen pounds at the beginning of the month to 20½ pounds about the close, and for bajri from seventeen to 19½ pounds. The scarcity of fodder was increasing, and people were moving with their cattle to the Konkan. A mild form of cholera was prevalent. The numbers of the destitute increased on public works from 4,056 to 13,371, and on civil works from 315 to 2,703.

In January 1877 no rain fell. Grain importations continued and the supply was sufficient. Jvari remained steady at twenty pounds the rupee, and bajri fell from 19½ to twenty pounds. Small-pox broke out among the labourers at the Nher lake. Otherwise public health was good, except at Tasgaon, whore, about the middle of the month, there was slight cholera. The numbers on relief increased, on public works from 13,371 to 15,639, and on civil works from 2,703 to 3,289. About the middle of February rain fell in the western sub-divisions of Satara, Patan and jaoli. The grain supply continued sufficient. The rupee price of bajri rose from twenty to 18½ pounds and jvari continued steady at twenty pounds. Cholera was prevalent and was increasing. The numbers on public works rose from 15,639 to 23,728; on civil works, in consequence of a reduction in pay in the civil works and of the transfer of workmen to public works, they fell from 3,289 to 178.[The now rates were, for man the price of one pound of grain and ½ a. instead of I a.; for a woman the price of one pound and¼ a. instead of ½ a.; and for a boy or girl the price of half a pound of grain and ¼ a.] During the months twenty-four persons were on charitable relief. Early in March rain fell over most of the district. The grain supply continued sufficient, the rupee price of jvari rising from twenty to 18½ pounds, and that of bajri falling from 18½ to nineteen. Emigration to Bombay and the Konkan continued. Cholera was prevalent and increasing. The numbers on relief rose, on public works from 23,728 to 26,539, on civil works from 178 to 239, and on charitable relief from twenty-four to 197. During April some good showers, especially in the south and southeast, improved the scanty water supply. The rupee price of both jvari and bajri rose from nineteen pounds at the. beginning of the month to seventeen pounds about the close. The hill villages of Karad and Patan suffered severely, the people living chiefly on wild fruits and roots. The number of the destitute rose on public works from 26,539 to 32,122. on civil works from 239 to 514, and on charitable relief from 197 to 645. The mortality from cholera continued heavy. Late in May good rain fell in Satara. jaoli, Wai and Valva, and showers in Man and Tasgaon. Emigrants were slowly returning. Among the hill people in the Khandala petty division of Wai there was great distress, but many had left their homes and found employment on the Nira canal in the Poona district, in Khanapur, the Mahars and Ramoshis were in great want, and grain was distributed to them at their homes. [In June the Collector put a stop to this mode of relief, as it was opposed to the spirit of Government orders.] The supply of grain continued sufficient, but rupee prices rose, for jvari from seventeen to 15½. pounds and for bajri from seventeen to I6½ pounds. The scarcity of fodder was pressing hard, and the mortality among cattle was increasing. For the benefit of the infirm poor ten additional relief houses were established. Cholera continued prevalent and the mortality was heavy. The numbers of the destitute considerably increased, on public works from 32,122 to 42,731, on civil works from 514 to 1,564, and on charitable relief from 645 to 1,833. About the second week in June the eastern storms began. In Tasgaon on two consecutive days about six inches fell in torrents. At Valva and other places the western rains had steadily set in by the 22nd of June. During the month an average of 10.81 inches fell. Emigrants were coming back, and about the middle of the month large numbers began leaving the relief works to return to their fields. The sowing of the early crops was begun and was rapidly progressing, and in places the young crops had begun to show. The supply of grain continued good, but rupee prices for bajri and jvari rose from 15½ and fifteen pounds at the beginning of the month to fourteen pounds towards the close. The people largely supplemented their food with green vegetables, which had now become plentiful, and in Valva mango, jack, and other fruits could be had in abundance. In Patan and Valva, the young grass was high enough to afford grazing for cattle and was finding its way to the markets. The numbers of relief fell, on public works for 47,849 at the beginning of the month to 41,046 about the close, and on civil works from 2,560 to 1,400.[For June the average daily number of the destitute was, on public works 46,317, on civil works 2,214, and on charitable relief 3,768.]

The mortality from cholera continued heavy. During July there was a fair rainfall in the west but only a few light showers in the east. Crop prospects continued good, but in places more rain was badly wanted. Emigrants were still returning. Cart-rates from Tasgaon to Poona and back rose from ordinary rates of Rs. 16 to Rs. 35, and grain traffic in carts from Chiplun was stopped. This, joined to the break in the monsoon, raised grain prices, for jvari from fourteen to 10⅝and for bajri from 14½ to 11⅛ pounds the rupee; on the 22nd, at Tasgaon, grain was sold at seven pounds the rupee. These high prices caused less distress than might have been expected, as vegetables could be had in abundance and were freely eaten, but partly from the want of salt, caused much disease, especially dysentery. Green grass was coming to market and fodder was much cheaper. The mortality from cholera continued heavy. The numbers on relief fell, on public works from 46,377 to 28,632, on civil works from 2,214 to 806, and on charitable relief from 3,768 to 3,051. In August there was an average fall of 7.37 inches. Except udid, mug, and rala, which in parts were much damaged by the scanty fall of the previous month, the crops were generally in good order but in the east required more rain. The supply of grain continued fair. Rupee prices both for bajri and jvari remained steady at eleven pounds. Cholera continued prevalent but was decreasing. The numbers on relief works fell considerably, on public works from 28,632 to 19,517, and on civil works from 806 to 524; on charitable relief they rose from 3,051 to 5,345. In September there was a good and heavy fall of rain, averaging 10.53 inches. Except in parts of Man, Wai and Jaoli the crops were everywhere good. In Karad in some places the maize, vari, sava and rala were harvested and grain was coming to market. Cart traffic to Chiplun, which had been stopped, was again opened. Rupee prices fell, for bajri from twelve pounds at the beginning of the month to nineteen pounds about the close, and for jvari from 11½ to 17½ pounds. The condition of the people considerably improved. Cholera continued to decrease. The numbers on relief fell, on public works from 19,517 to 16,601 and on civil works from 524 to 494 on charitable relief they rose from 5,345 to 10,342. In October an average of 6.91 inches of rain tell. The sowing of the cold-weather crops was in progress, but it was kept back by the heavy rain, which also in some places injured the ripe early crops. Grain prices fell, for jvari from nineteen pounds at the beginning of the month to twenty pounds about the close, and for bajri from 21½ to twenty-four pounds. The numbers on relief fell, on public works from 16,601 to 9,718, on civil works from 494 to 113, and on charitable relief from 10,342 to 7,113. Early in the month (6th) all civil agency works were closed. A mild type of cholera continued prevalent. In November there were a few showers in Satara, Patan, Valva and Tasgaon. The harvesting of the early crops was nearly finished and rabi sowing was almost complete. During the month grain prices averaged 23¾ pounds for jvari and for bajri 29½ pounds the rupee. The numbers on public works fell from 2,755 about the beginning of the month to 469 at the end, when the works were closed. The numbers on charitable relief fell from 1,073 at the beginning of the month to 134 on the 24th. In the last week no one was charitably relieved. In December a few showers greatly benefited the cold-weather crops. Grain continued to grow cheaper, jvari falling to thirty-one and bajri to thirty-two pounds. No one took advantage of the Government offer to charitable relief.

The following table of millet prices and numbers receiving relief shows that during the first three months of 1877 grain kept pretty steady at nineteen pounds the rupee, or nearly twice the ordinary rates; that its price rose rapidly in April, May, June and July, till it reached 11 1/3 pounds in August, and that it then quickly fell to 29½ pounds in November. As early as December 1876, the numbers on relief works reached 16,074. From that they rose steadily to 48,531 in June, and then falling to 29,438 in July owing to the large demand for field labour, continued to decrease till November, when the works were closed. The numbers on charitable relief rose steadily from 24 in February to 3,768 in June. They then fell to 3,051 in July, and, after rising to 10,342 in September, fell to 328 in November.

TABLE No. 40.

SATARA FAMINE, 1876-77.

A special census taken on the 19th May 1877, when famine pressure was general and severe, showed that of 46,235 labourers, 44,344 on public and 1,891 on civil works, 18,316 belonged to the sub-divisions where the works were carried on; 13,998 belonged to the different sub-divisions of the same district; 6,702 were from other districts; and 7,219 from neighbouring States. As regards their occupation, 3,062 were manufacturers or craftsmen, 24,611 were holders or under-holders of land, and 18,562 were labourers.

Cost.

The total cost of the famine was estimated at Rs. 11,81,372 or which Rs. 10,75,281 were spent on Public and Civil Works, and Rs. 1,06,091 on charitable relief.

Relief Houses.

Of twenty relief-houses or camps opened in the district between November 1876 and November 1877, five were on the irrigation works at the Pingli, Nher, Islampur, and Mhaswad reservoirs and on the Krishna canal extension. Of the twenty relief-houses, one was started in November 1876 and the rest during 1877, three in February, one in March, ten in May, four in June, and one in September. Except at the Pingli, Nher, Islampur, and Mhaswad reservoirs where small huts were raised at Government expenses, the buildings used for the relief houses were generally dharmshalas or rest-houses, chavdis or village offices, and temples. The following are the dates at which the twenty relief houses were opened and closed: the relief house at Tasgaon was opened on the 16th of November 1876 and was closed on the 1st of November 1877; at a cost of Rs. 16,237 it relieved a monthly average of ninety-four men, sixty women, and eighty children. The relief-house at Pingli reservoir in Man was opened in February 1877 and closed on the 31st of October; at cost of Rs. 28,812, it relieved 3,58,760 persons in all or a monthly average of 39,862. The relief-house at the Nher reservoir in Khatav was opened in February 1877 and closed on the 23rd of October; at a cost of Rs. 5,992, it relieved 95,138 persons in all or a monthly average of 10,571. The relief-house at the Islampur reservoir in Valva, was opened in February 1877 and closed on the 30th of September; at a cost of Rs. 1,591, it relieved 17,472 persons in all or a monthly average of 2,181. The relief-house at the Mhaswad reservoir in Man was opened in March 1877 and closed on the 30th of November; at a total cost of Rs. 21,590, it relieved 2,32,964 persons in all or a monthly average of 25,885. The relief-house at Peth in Valva was opened on the 14th May 1877 and closed on the 30th of June; at a total cost of Rs. 348, it relieved a monthly average of 214 men, 208 women, and 165 children. The relief-house at Medha in Jaoli, was opened on the 15th of May 1877 and closed on the 11th of July; at a cost of Rs. 355, it relieved a monthly average of 900 men, 1,150 women, and 1,230 children. The relief-house at Koregaon was opened on the 18th of May 1877 and closed on the 2nd of June; at a cost of Rs. 142, it relieved 1,620 persons or "a monthly average of 810. The relief-house at Satara was opened from private funds on the 18th of May 1877 and closed in November; at a cost of Rs. 5,624, it relieved 67,770 persons or a monthly average of 11,295. The relief-house at Kadegaon in Khanapur was opened on the 19th of May 1877 and closed on the 29th of June; at a cost of Rs. 140, it relieved a monthly average of 157 men, 270 women, and 125 children. The relief-house at Vita in Khanapur was opened on the 20th of May 1877 and closed on the 30th of October; at a cost of Rs. 3,360, it relieved a monthly average of 600 men, 800 women, and 840 children. The relief-house at Khanapur was opened on the 22nd of May 1877 and closed on the 1st of November; at a cost of Rs. 1,176, it relieved a monthly average of 190 men, 225 women, and 176 children. The relief-house at Khandala in Wai, was opened on the 26th of May 1877 and closed on the 1st of July; at a cost of Rs. 174, it relieved a monthly average of 565 men, 468 women, and 464 children. The relief-house at Patan was opened on the 28th of May 1877 and closed on the 30th of June; at a total cost of Rs. 611, it relieved a monthly average of 2,125 men, 2,969 women, and 4,506 children. The relief-house at Wai was opened on the 30th of May 1877 and closed on the 1st of July; at a total cost of Rs. 100, it relieved a monthly average of 463 men, 718 women, and 1,218 children. The relief-house at Helvak in Patan, was opened on the 1st of June 1877 and was closed on the 16th of the same month; at a cost of Rs. 59, it relieved a monthly average of forty-two men, thirty-one women, and five children. The relief-house at Vaduj in Khatav was opened on the 11th of June 1877 and closed on the 11th of November; at a cost of Rs. 2,433, it relieved a monthly average of 363 men, 504 women, and 752 child-en. The relief-house at Mayni in Khatav was opened on the 18th of June 1877 and closed on the 25th of June; at a cost of Rs. 78, it relieved 1,057 persons or a monthly average of 204 men, 615 women, and 238 children. The relief-house at the Krishna canal extension was opened in June 1877 and closed on the 30th of September; at a cost of Rs. 49, it relieved 595 persons or a monthly average of 148. The relief-house at Karad was opened on the 7th of September 1877 and closed on the 7th of November; at a cost of Rs. 267, it relieved a monthly average of 297 men, 584 women, and 707 children. Besides, the cost on these relief-houses, Government spent about Rs. 23,860 in village charity.

Relief Staff.

To superintend relief works four mamlatdars were employed to the end of October 1877, one in Man from the 10th of January 1877, one in Khanapur from the 17th of January, one in Tasgaon from the 31st of January, and one in Khatav from the 14th of the May. Besides these four mamlatdars, during the various periods of the famine, the relief staff included five other officers. In addition to these relief officers, sixty circle inspectors were employed on village inspection in 1877 from the 10th of May to the 30th of June. Large relief camps on the works at the Pingli, Nher, Islampur and Mhaswad reservoirs, and the Krishna canal extension were superintended by a staff of public works officers.

Grain.

Some municipalities sold grain at fixed rates to the poor, a mode of charity which was much appreciated. It is a part of outdoor relief, and if well supervised has no effect on trade or on prices. The abuses to be guarded against are simply those which are always present when either grain or money are distributed without a test of alleged poverty. Grain sold at or below cost price meets, the case of those who are not paupers, are much straitened, but yet so long as they can earn anything in their usual way or have any means; left, will not go to work. For the same reason loans of grain to respectable people, willing to maintain their dependents are safe and are valuable. During the fair season grain came in large quantities, into Satara from Bombay by sea to Chiplun and from Chiplun to Karad by the Kumbharli pass road; during the rains it chiefly came by rail to Poona and from Poona in carts to Satara along the Poona-Belgaum road. In the east, grain also came by rail to Sholapur and from Sholapur in carts to Satara.

Emigration.

A great number of people from the Man, Khatav, Khanapur, and Tasgaon sub-divisions left the district in the early days of distress. Some of them went north and north-east to Bombay, Berar, and Khandesh, and others went south-west to the Konkan. The people who left the district, were those in charge of cattle, who usually had some means, and field labourers and small landholders, who had no stock of grain and no credit. Of these three classes the labourers were the most numerous. The small landholders took with them their pair of bullocks and a cow or two, and left nothing behind but an empty house and a barricaded door. Some of them went to the Konkan and the rest to the Berars. Many, especially of those who went to the Berars, are believed to have found openings and settled. Of the labouring classes, the better-off left first and found work in distant parts; others went to the public works and remained there pretty steadily; others wandered to the Sahyadris whence later on they wandered back in much distress; and others, especially the women, hung about the villages living on next to nothing and dying in thousands on the first fall of rain.

Difficulties.

The chief difficulties in dealing with the famine, were the obstinacy of some who would not leave their villages for the works and the vagrancy of others who persisted in wandering instead of working. These difficulties were met by careful village inspection and gentle pressure in the case of the stay-at-homes, and by watch-ful supervision by officers of all grades in the case of the vagrants.

Results.

In the eastern sub-divisions, according to the agricultural returns, the number of cattle fell from 994,272 in 1876-77 to 775,393 in 1877-78, that is a loss of 218,879. In 1876-77, the actual number of offences reported was 5,912 against 4,064 in 1876-77. Serious crime, such as murder, dacoity and robbery seems to have been more prevalent and the number of thefts was considerably more than double what it was in 1876-77. In 1878, the tillage area fell short of that in 1876 by about 18,400 acres. Of about Rs. 15,57,400, the realizable land revenue for the year 1876-77, Rs. 13,02,670, were collected in 1876-77, Rs. 5,820 remitted, and the rest was collected in subsequent years.

FAMINES 1925-55.

In the district, scarcity conditions or near-famine conditions prevailed on several occasions between 1925 and 1955. The following statement indicates the years of amine as well as the number of villages and the population affected.

In 1925-26. the relief works undertaken in Man taluka were as under: -

(i) Clearing the silt of Lodhawada Pat (canal), estimated to cost nearly Rs. 3,000 and to provide work to 300 persons.

(ii) Cleaning the silt of Bidal feeder channel estimated a: cost Us. 3,000. It provided employment to 250 persons.

(iii) Special repairs to Satara-Pandharpur road estimated to cost Rs. 15,700. Approximately 400 persons scented employment. Gratuitous relief was extended to these persons to the tune of Rs. 7,843 and 25,000 bales of hay wore distributed free lo halt-starved cattle.

TABLE No. 41.

NUMBER OF VILLAGES AND POPULATION AFFECTED BY FAMINES.

¹ Famine year relates to the period From 1st August to 31st July.

²N. A. - Not available.

During 1940-41, the relief works undertaken in Khandala mahal consisted of an approach road at Wathar Bk., road work near Andori, Lonand-Shirwal road and Lonand-Khandala road. The gratuitous relief extended to the persons affected by scarcity conditions amounted to Rs. 1,020 whereas 35,250 bales of hay were distributed free as fodder to cattle.

The famine of 1945-46, was more severe than the earlier ones and affected particularly Khandala mahal and Man taluka. The work of deepening and repairing existing wells was undertaken in I8 villages at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,500. It enabled 100 persons to secure employment. Besides this, Dahiwadi-Malwadi road, Dahiwadi-Padegaon-Jingli-Mardi road and Shewari-Ranand road works were also executed. Gratuitous relief to the extent of Rs. 46,071, was given to approximately 1,000 persons. Food to the extent of 146 B. maunds, 542 tons of oil-cake and 125 tons and 1,710 bales of hay for cattle were distributed free to the cultivators.

After the occurrence of famine in 1952-53, relief work was commenced in Khandala mahal. It included bunding works at Padli and Sukhed and collection of metal on Lonand-Khandala road. Similar works undertaken in Man taluka. were as under: -

(1) Construction of Ranand tank at a cost of Rs. 5,50,424, which provided employment to 900 persons.

(2) Metal collection work on Mile Nos. 45, 46. 50 and 52 of Pandharpur road.

(3) Repairs to Kukundwad-Mhaswad road.

(4) Repairs to Mayni-Kukuudwad road.

(5) Repairs to Mhaswad-Shinganapur road.

In Khatav taluka, the following three works were undertaken.-

(1) Construction of Daruj tank, estimated to cost Rs. 2,73,840. and expected to provide employment to nearly 1,600 persons.

(2) Bunding works at Katar-Khatav and Nadhwal estimated to cost Rs. 7,453, Nearly 150 persons were employed.

(3) Deepening of wells and removing the silt in 23 villages at a cost of Rs. 6,750.

Construction and repair works undertaken in Phaltan taluka were as under:-

(1) Construction of percolation tanks at Salpe and Adarki Kd. Average number of workers employed daily at the site of works was 650 and 250, respectively.

(2) Repairs to Phaltan-Asu road estimated to cost Rs. 90,000 and spread over a distance of six miles. Daily attendance of labourers was around 3,000.

(3) Construction of Jaoli-Andrud road. An amount of Rs. 15,000 was spent and on an average 150 labourers got employment.

(4) Widening of Sahara nalla on Mahad-Pandharpur road.

(5) Repairs to Phaltan-Satara road between Adarki to Wathar in Phaltan taluka.

Gratuitous relief was extended to the tune of Rs. 15,833 to the sufferers to enable them to overcome some of their hardships. Food comprising 82 B. maunds of rice, 36 barrels of milk; jowar worth Rs. 1,410; clothes worth Rs. 3,000; 2,670 B. maunds of oil-cake; 2,77,513 lbs. and 591 bales of hay, were distributed free to the agriculturists so as to help them meet some of their basic needs as well as those of cattle. Besides these measures, tagai loans to the extent of Rs. 88,846 were granted to the cultivators in Khatav taluka while the corresponding figure for Khandala mahal stood at Rs. 8,876.

It will be seen from the foregoing account that with the passage of time, the persons affected by scarcity or famine have been getting assistance, larger in magnitude and in various forms. It is also partly due to the experience gained by the Government machinery in meeting the scarcity conditions on various occasions since the phenomenon is of a recurring nature.

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