AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

FAMINES

Occurrence of famines is a common feature in many parts of the country even today though their frequency and severity may and does vary from region to region. Prior to the commencement of the regency in 1818, no information as to the occurrence of famines in the district is on record. The only description of those occurring between 1818 and 1868.69 is contained in a letter by the Deputy Commissioner [No. 1114, dated 27th April 1868, from the Deputy Commissioner to Commissioner, Nagpur.] written in 1868 which gives such facts as he had been able to gather by oral inquiry. However the early famine history of Wardha district may be traced from various references to famines in Berar as Wardha lies close by this region. Berar along with the rest of the Deccan was devastated by a terrible famine during the reign of Muhammad Shah Bahamani (1378.1397) who opened an orphanage at Ellichpur to relieve the distress of the people. We have no knowledge whether such measures were taken in Wardha district. The district is unlikely to have escaped the famine of 1417 which gripped the greater part of the Deccan. Again the scarcity of 1472-73 which pervaded Malva, and the Deccan including Berar caused an exodus of population in Bengal and Gujarat. In 1630-31 the rains completely failed in Berar and the Deccan which resulted in one of the most severe famines ever known in Berar. " Buyers were ready to give a life for a loaf, but seller was there none. The flesh of dogs was sold as that of goats and the bones of the dead were ground with the flour sold in the market, and the punishment of those who profited by this traffic produced yet direr results, men devoured each other and came to regard the flesh of their children as sweeter than their love. The inhabitants fled afar to other tracts till the corpses of those who fell by the way impeded those who came after and in the lands of Berar, which had been famous for their fertility and prosperity, no trace of habitation remained." [ Badshah Nama in Elliot and Dowson, Vol. VII, p. 24.] Though this account taken from Badshah Nama of Abdul Hamid Lahori seems and is a little exaggerated it cannot be dismissed as entirely imaginary and fabricated.

1832.

A reference has already been made to the letter of the Deputy Commissioner. This letter refers only to the famine of 1832 which incidentally is the earliest recorded famine in Wardha district. It describes that famine as follows. Excessive rain fell in November 1831 at the time when the autumn crop had been threshed and harvested. The grain was severely injured, while the continuous rains prevented the spring sowings and caused such grains as had been sown to rot in the ground. The remains of the spring harvest were finally destroyed by blight. The outturn of both harvests was very poor and severe famine appears to have ensued for a period of eight or nine months. The price of grain rose to eight seers a rupee in April 1832. Distress was acute and was not alleviated by any demand for labour, while starving refugees from Berar and Khandesh flocked into the district. To obtain food many people changed their caste, and parents sold their children for ten pounds of wheat. The death rate for the famine period was locally estimated at a fifth of the population. Though this figure cannot be considered to possess statistical value it does suffice to indicate that there was severe mortality from privation. The refugees from other districts naturally fared worse. Daily 5,000 persons were served with cooked food by the Bhosle administration at Nagpur and alms houses were established at all the central places. The export of foodgrains was totally forbidden and a price was fixed at which the sales were to be made, pressure being directed to cause the holders of grain stocks to retail them at fixed rates. From the granaries at Nagpur, Chanda and Bhandara grain was distributed without interest. On the whole the Bhosle administration seems to have done as much as any other government would have done to relieve the people or subjects of their sufferings". [Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Wardha District, Vol. A., 1906, pp.172-73.]

1868-69

" Between 1832 and 1868, the year of Bundelkhand famine, crops fared well there being on record no serious failures of crops. It was a period of comparative plenty and prosperity. The monsoon broke early in 1868 and nearly nine inches of rain were received in the first week of June alone. Consequently the autumn crops were hurriedly sown, but the rain was succeeded by a break of five weeks until the 12th of July. During this period though the seedling germinated, the young plants began to wither, but an opportune shower on 12th July again revived them. Such land as had not been ready at the first premature burst of the rain was also sown. The long break had also made possible a careful preparation of the fields for the spring crops. However, unfortunately the monsoon failed again in early August and was not regularly re-established. During the latter part of August showers were received joyfully and a storm in September gave 2½ inches of rain. The exact result of the harvest is not recorded, but moderate outturns were obtained both from the autumn and spring crops and no severe distress followed. Regular relief works were not considered necessary but it was reported that Pench river irrigation project would be undertaken. Whether any work was actually executed or undertaken is not known as there is no record to that effect. Some railway extension was undertaken which provided some work. A certain amount of scarcity was experienced leading to such increased mortality as to affect the development of population in the next Census of 1872." [ Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Wardha District, Vol. A., 1906, pp-173-74.]

1877-78

"The monsoon partially failed in 1877-78 only 6½ inches of rainfall being received in August and four inches in September. Jowar gave a fair outturn and despite rain in the winter months the spring crops were bad. Though the Deputy Commissioner reported that no relief was required, the statistics of death rate at 70 per mille and birth-rate at only 32 show that distress did exist and that relief was essential. However, mortality can be partly attributed to epidemics of Cholera and small-pox." [Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Wardha District, Vol. A., 1906,p-174.]

1892-94

" The cycle of bad years began in 1891-92 in Wardha district in which year only four inches of rain fell in August whereas 21 inches fell in September. This resulted in poor autumn crops. Due to insufficiency of rain in August rice crop totally withered and excess of rain in September drowned the jowar and cotton crops. Spring crops were also affected because scarcely any rains were received until February. Wheat gave an outturn of only 60 and gram of 38 per cent. of an average harvest. Jowar, cotton and rice were only 45 per cent, each of the normal. Distress however does not seem to have supervened. The Revenue Report of 1891-92 states that " the conditions of the year were by no means suitable for jowar, cotton and til, which suffered in particular considerably from the heavy rains of September. In the Nagpur country these crops are said to have been very poor, jowar which is the staple food of the poorer classes suffering most. The effect of the early cessation of the rains was most marked in the case of wheat crop, the area under which contracted by about 12 per cent in consequence of the unfavourable conditions for sowing. A timely fall of rain in February improved prospects which during January had been very gloomy. But its effect was somewhat discounted by the early setting in of the hot weather, which is said to have prematurely dried the grain and rendered it much lighter than was anticipated. The harvests in the Southern and Eastern Districts were very poor indeed." The agricultural history of the year is rather interesting in that even after the heavy rain in September much of the land remained too dry for sowing, while February rain was too late to benefit the crops of the Southern Districts. The year 1892-93 however was much favourable for Wardha than for other districts, the autumn harvest being practically upto normal. The October rain was sufficient for sowing and upto February the prospects of the spring crop seemed excellent, but much damage was caused in the ripening plants by heavy rain in March with long intervals of cloudy weather and occasional hailstorms. The spring crops yielded half outturns and the average of the years was 84 per cent of normal. In 1893-94 serious injury was caused to cotton and til due to 5½ and 2 inches of rain received in October and November respectively. Rain at sowing time induced rust in wheat and linseed resulting in a yield of only 45 and 38 per cent of normal respectively. In the cold weather heavy showers were received in other districts but in Wardha no rain was received at the headquarters and only one or two light showers at other stations. It appears that cloudy weather assisted the rust already induced by the dampness of the soil and this perhaps may explain the failure which considered by the statistics of the rainfall, seems to be unaccountable. The number of deaths in 1894 exceeded that of births by about 5,000 which indicated that there was slight distress in the district." [Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Wardha District, Vol. A., 1906, pp. 174-75.]

1895 and 1896

" The autumn crops of 1894-95 were considerably damaged by heavy rains in September and October, 12½ inches being received in the former and 3 in the latter month. While jowar and cotton yielded 68 and 75 per cent respectively of the normal, the outturn of til and tur were a mere 30 and 45 per cent respectively. Less than three inches of rain fell between November and February, but this amount, combined with cloudy weather was sufficient to induce rust in linseed, though wheat and gram escaped without much damage. Linseed was almost totally destroyed its outturn that year being only 38 per cent of normal. Stray wheat plants standing unaffected in a reddened linseed field, was a common sight to see and vice versa a solitary linseed plant in a wheat field was found to be the only one affected. Wind carried the red spores everywhere and a powder like brick dust covered the feet and clothes of a person walking through a linseed field. In 1893 both the death and birth-rates remained almost the same as in the preceding year, deaths exceeding births by about 2000. The year 1895-96 was comparatively a good year for Wardha though elsewhere it was marked by a partial failure of autumn crops owing to the early cessation of the monsoon. Though only five inches of rain were received in September and just under one inch in October and despite a rainless cold weather, these falls were sufficient to ensure a good autumn and a fair spring harvest. Slight distress had been in existence since 1894, the death-rate in these three years being from 41 to 47 per mille or about 10 per mille above the average of the preceding decade, while the birth-rate was 36 per mille as against the average of 38 for the same period. Wardha got good crops in 1895-96 and hence whatever distress had previously been in existence was practically removed. The circumstances in Northern Districts were, however, different as they did not get as good crops as Wardha did." [ Central Provinces District Gazetteers. Wardha District, Vol. A, 1906, p.-176.]

1897.

" In 1896 there was abundant rainfall up to the end of August when it stopped abruptly. In September slight showers were received in parts of, the district, over an inch fell in November with occasional showers during the cold weather months. Rice and tur completely failed, but jowar and cotton yielded to the extent of 60 per cent. A considerable portion of the spring crop area was too dry to be sown, but such land as could be cultivated yielded a fairly good harvest, the wheat crop being 60 per cent of the normal. Such distress as occurred in the district was practically produced by the high state of prices, which were forced up to famine rates by the export demand. During the early part of 1897 the scarcity was almost confined to the labouring classes who had immigrated from Bhandara and Balaghat and had been turned back from Berar as there was no demand for their labour. Private poor houses were opened for the destitute at Wardha and some other villages, and the proprietors of Borgaon and Rohni and other malguzars provided work at their own expenses by building tanks and constructing embankments. For famine works a small sum of Rs. 2,500 was advanced. Until April 1897 practically nothing was done by the government when a relief work was opened on the Arvi-Ashti road and continued until October. At Wardha and Hinganghat poor houses were opened in the rains and a small village relief was given. The highest number of persons on all forms of relief was 8500 in May 1897, and the famine expenditure Rs. 89,000. Little or no revenue was suspended. The average price of jowar was 21 lbs. per rupee in 1897 and shot up to the high rate of 16 lbs. in August of the same year. The rates of wheat and gram for the year were 16 lbs. to the rupee. Such a high level of price was in itself sufficient to cause distress. In February 1897 was begun the import of Rangoon rice and had it not been done the prices would have risen further. The birth-rate per mille was 41 in 1897, it being higher than in any year since 1891. This was due to the favourable harvests of 1896. The death-rate per mille was 60 during the year, the mortality being severe during the autumn months between August and October. It was swelled by a severe epidemic of fever which affected both the poor and the rich alike. The growth of grass was stunted and scanty owing to the early cessation of the monsoon and fodder was almost unprocurable during the hot weather months. This led to a severe mortality among the cattle, the death-rate being double that of the preceding year. " [ Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Wardha District, Vol. A.1906-pp-177-78.]

1898 and 1899.

" Sufficient and well distributed rainfall in 1897 helped to reap bumper autumn and good spring crops. Both the birth and death-rate fell in 1898, the former being 28 and the latter 25 per mille. In a year succeeding famine this is a usual phenomenon. Monsoon again became scanty after July of 1898, it being only 3½ inches in August, 4 inches in September and half an inch in October. Not a shower fell during the cold weather months. Jowar had an outturn of 90 and cotton 75 per cent, while the spring crops were scarcely over a third of the average. As Hinganghat at the time mainly depended on the spring harvest it fared very badly that year. The autumn crops were still worse than in the other two tahsils. Taking into consideration the failure of crops an amount of Rs. 25,000 of the land revenue was either suspended or remitted in this tahsil. As the birth-rate for 1899 remained as high as 52 per mille and the death-rate remained normal at 33 no distress was felt". [ Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Wardha District, Vol. A., 1906, p-178.]

1900

" In 1899 rains failed completely throughout, the month of July which should have received the heaviest rainfall receiving only one inch. Three inches fell in June and six in August. Local showers, amounting at Wardha to about three inches, were received in September and practically none at all afterwards. In other parts as the rainfall was very local and irregularly distributed those fared worse than Wardha. This led to a complete failure of both the harvests, the best crop being cotton with a return of 45 per cent of normal. Jowar and til yielded 30 per cent each, the spring crops producing nothing practically. The year 1900 thus witnessed the first real famine which Wardha had experienced since 1831-32. In October distress began to make itself felt and a full and timely system of relief measures was inaugurated during that month. Cash doles, kitchens and large work camps were also started simultaneously which greatly helped to ease the sufferings of the poor. By way of supplies of food the Wardha forests hardly yielded any thing, and such growth of mahua as existed gave a very poor crop. To begin with people were rather reluctant to leave their villages and join the relief camps, but this attitude was soon shed. In November 1899, 9000 persons were working and the number rose to 40,000 in February and 50,000 in May, this last figure being equivalent to 12 per cent of the population. Altogether the Public Works Department opened ten camps for large works. The work done consisted of the construction of 80 miles of roads, collection of nuirum or gravel and the breaking of metal for newly constructed and existing roads, and the breaking of ballast for the railway at five centres. Eight tanks and a number of wells were improved and deepened and a large tank was built at Samudrapur where the water supply was deficient. The new roads partially or completely constructed were those from Selu to Pavnar station, Selu to Elikeli, Sonegaon to Alipur, Jam to Samudrapur, Wardha to Anji, Wardha to Waigaon, Wardha to Deoli, and Hinganghat to Pohna. During the course of the famine sixteen village works were also opened, 13 old tanks being improved and three new ones constructed at Deoli, Taroda and Thanegaon. During the same period 75 wells were deepened. The majority of these works were managed by the village proprietors, the highest number of persons employed on them being 4,000 in April 1900. Infirm paupers in villages were given cash doles from October 1889 to October 1900. These doles were distributed through the headmen or mukaddams of the villages in weekly instalments. The highest number of persons on this form of relief was 6500 in October 1900. During the rains of 1900 cash doles were also given to indigent cultivators in return for work to be done in their villages at the discretion of the headman. The primary object of this system was to enable the cultivators to remain in their villages and continue the cultivation of their holdings. The largest number of persons relieved in this manner was 5,000 in September. Throughout the famine kitchens served cooked food, their number being 37 in April 1900, 91 in May, 143 in July and 152 in September. Nearly 57,000 persons or 14 per cent of the population of the district, about half of whom were adults were receiving food at these kitchens. As jowar, the staple food of the people could not be procured in sufficient quantities rice and pulses were distributed. Though the people readily consumed these, as there was nothing else to be had, it is likely that the regular consumption of rice, must have been harmful to those who had hitherto consumed jowar. It is also a very likely conjecture that severe mortality during the months of July and August of 1900, especially among the young children, was caused partly by the changed diet. It is proved that boiled rice is so bulky a food that the stomachs of regular rice eaters become especially distended, and a consumer of wheat or jowar in the form of chapatis cannot readily change to a diet of rice. This may have been more especially the case with children, who would be more liable to diseases of the bowels and the digestive organs. " [ Central Provinces District Gazetteers Wardha District. Vol. A., 1906, p-180.]

Statistics of Relief and Expenditure

" The total number of persons in receipt of assistance from Government reached 25,000 in December 1899, 50,000 in February 1900, 80,000 in May, and reached to a maximum of 103,000 in July, this last figure being a quarter of the whole population. After this the number began the decline and when in September it fell to 50,000 the relief operations were correspondingly reduced and finally brought to a close at the end of November. The total direct expenditure was Rs. 20 lakhs and the number of day units relieved over 21 million, the incidence per day unit being 1 anna and 6 pies. Land revenue to the tune of Rs. 5 lakhs or 77 per cent of the total demand was suspended. Government forests were thrown open and Rs. 22,000 advanced under the Land Improvement Loans Act. Under the Agriculturists Loans Act a further amount of nearly Rs. 2½ lakhs was advanced for the purchase of seed-grains and plough bullocks. The bulk of the money advanced under the Land Improvement Loans Act was utilised in constructing and improving the wells. The average amount given or advanced to a single tenant for seed and bullocks stood at Rs. 16. Rs. 1-31 lakhs were distributed in charitable grants of which Rs. 43,000 were raised in the district itself and the remainder were received from the Provincial Charitable Fund. " [ Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Wardha District, Vol. A., 1906, pp.-180-81]

Crime

" Cheap grain shops were started at the commencement of the famine. These were supported by a voluntary rate paid by the Marwari merchants on each bag of grain and tin of ghee exported. At these shops grain was sold at an uniform rate of 12 seers a rupee. The appearance of famine was accompanied by a considerable increase in offences against property in the shape of grain thefts and dacoities. Most of the offences were largely due to the feeling against the export of grain. People were enraged when with the rise in prices the merchants began carting grain to the railway station for export, or sending it to their stores in the town or large villages for safe custody. Resentment first manifested in the form of remonstrances against the grain owners and their refusal to listen to them ended in looting of the grain. The dacoities were committed both by bands of lawless characters within the district as also raiders from Berar. The method adopted by the dacoits was to frighten the villagers out of their villages and then ransacking their belongings and property. In order to repress this outburst of crime the malguzars were induced to organise a system of night watches. Night watch parties were organised to patrol the villages by night and were paid in the form of grain-doles by the proprietors. Armed constables were also employed to patrol the Berar borders. These measures largely succeeded in stamping out organised crime. " [ Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Wardha District, Vol. A, 1906, pp-181-82.]

Cattle Mortality.

" The year was a very bad one for cattle. The growth of grass was stunted and much of it withered by August end. Casual labourers scraped up all the available grass and sold it in Wardha and other towns. Kadbi or jowar stalks outturn was only a third of the normal. Streams dried up and wells ran very low. The trees were stripped of their foliage for fodder. The condition of the cattle was pitiable and under these circumstances many cattle were sent to the other districts, those that remained being let loose and allowed to wander as they would. Throwing open of government forests served little purpose as the supply of fodder was inadequate. The mortality was the highest in June and July and the returns show that 35,000 heads of cattle or 10 per cent of the district total had perished. But the exports of hides from railway stations were over 10,000 mounds and taking an average of 8 hides per mound, this would show that more than 80,000 cattle must have died and that a considerable majority of this number would belong to the district. Grass was imported from Chanda through Warora and offered for sale at Wardha and Pulgaon. During the cold weather demand was small as many cattle were sent away. Jowar fodder was imported from Berar. Grass was to begin with offered at Rs. 27 a ton, but could not be sold at this rate. In December jowar fodder had been selling at Rs. 70 a thousand bundles and grass at Rs. 20; but these prices subsequently dropped largely. The grass prices fell to Rs. 12 a ton and in May when the plough cattle returned from the forests it was rapidly sold off. More than 2,000 tons were disposed of and a handsome profit was realised. ' [Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Wardha District, Vol. A., 1906, pp.-181-82.]

Mortality and Prices.

" The mortality of the year 1900 was very heavy, being 19 per mille on the deduced population. Till April 1900 the death rate remained normal at under 4 per mille per mensem. During the hot weather months it rose to 7 or 8 per mille and to 10 per mille in July, 12 and 11 in August and September respectively. In the hot weather and the rains cholera broke out causing havoc in the relief camps, all the towns and nearly half the villages in the district. Though strict measures were adopted to check its spread, the water impurity helped its development. The mortality from bowel complaints was also large. It was attributed partly to the unaccustomed diet of imported Bengal rice which was stated to be more difficult of digestion than the local varieties, and partly to the consumption of large quantities of green food and vegetables after the breaking of the monsoon. The birth-rate for the year 1899 has been very high, amounting to 52 per mille, and nearly a third of the total number of deaths in 1900 were those of children under one year of age. The average price of wheat in 1900 was 16 lbs. per rupee, of gram 20 lbs. and of rice 19 lbs. The price of jowar was returned at 22 lbs, but during most of the year this grain was not procurable in sufficient quantity to meet the demand for consumption. Prices were generally lower than in 1897. However, the famine left no lasting mark on the prosperity of the district, except possibly in parts of Hinganghat tahsil. Two years after it the cropped area exceeded the maximum previously recorded, and the birthrate for the three years 1902-1904 shows that the loss of population had been more than made up. " [Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Wardha District, Vol. A., 1906, pp.-183-84.]

The 1911 Central Provinces and Berar Census Report has some interesting things to say about the effect of scarcity of 1900 in the Province as a whole and are worthy of reproduction here " the scarcity of 1900 fell with the greatest severity on the lower orders of society........ the high mortality at the two extremes of life and among the weaker members of society left a population purged of its weaker elements and with constitution improved both physically and morally by the trials it had gone through Though the population was almost decimated, though at one period nearly a fourth of the total population came on relief lists, though land went out of cultivation, cattle died, cheap crops took the place of valuable ones, while prices rose to levels never before attained, yet amidst all this hopeless depression and seemingly complete demoralization there emerged almost as if by a miracle a new spirit of vigour and energy. It had apparently needed a severe trial and tribulation to bring out qualities and energies which had so long been latent during the anterior period of early existence. " [Chief Commissioner's Resolution No. 1242 (Finance Department) 2nd August 1911, quoted from C. P. and Berar Census Report, 1911.]

1907 and 1908

The famined Report of 1907-08 has recorded that the province as a whole fared well on the agricultural front during the 1901 to 1907 period. A rapid progress in commerce was also made. The 1900 famine was followed by two fair seasons, but in 1902-03 there was a general failure of rice. The season of 1903-04 was the best that the Province ever enjoyed since the pre-famine days and Wardha district in particular reaped bumper crops. The subsequent seasons were also good, though there were some local disasters. During this period not only the condition of the land-holder improved but that of the labourer too. The 1900 famine had seriously depleted their numbers and hence during the period under review the cry was for more workers rather than for work.

1908-11

Due to premature cessation of monsoon in 1907 the Province sustained another setback in 1908 after six years of prosperity. The distress that attended was not caused so much by a deficiency of food-stocks as by high level of prices of food-grains. The northern districts suffered the most and though in the remainder of the Province the conditions were not so severe, the pinch of the rising prices was felt by all classes of people. The situation however, was eased by a large extension of ordinary works, the relief to the weaving community through their trade, and certain amount of gratuitous relief in the north of the Province. The subsequent period upto 1911 was one of recovery and despite scattered out-breaks of plague, small-pox, cholera and malarial fever during 1909, the public health in the Province as a whole was good.

1911-21

During the decade 1911-1921 the agricultural and economic history of the Province is one of considerable complexity. Crops yielded a satisfactory outturn in the year 1911-12 but in the next year the total outturn was only 75 per cent of the normal. The harvests upto 1916-17 were also good, though cotton crop of 1916-17 which by now had risen to unprecedented price was much damaged by heavy rain which fell just before picking commenced. In 1917-18, there was, however, a setback caused by excessive rain during monsoon which damaged cotton and jowar in the west of the Province. The cessation of rains during winter months proved to be inimical to wheat in the north and the total harvest was estimated only at a little more than three fourths of the normal.

The following assessment of the scarcity of 1918-19 is based on the Financial Commissioner's Report. The scarcity of 1918-19 was, as in all previous failures, due to the abrupt cessation of rains in 1918. Though the early monsoon was well distributed it receded abruptly and there was practically no rain until almost the end of November. This resulted in the kharif crops, taken together for Central Provinces and Berar, yielding less than half the normal crop. The land prepared for rabi sowings hardened fast owing to the prolonged drought and it was impossible for the whole of the seed to get into the ground.

Though the failure of crops was severe in many parts of the Province distress would not have been so acute as it actually became but for two reasons. The distress was aggravated, in the first place, by large export of grains in previous years outside the Province. This export depleted the reserve food stocks with the result that prices had already reached what in previous times would have been considered a famine level. Secondly, the serious out-break of influenza, which had attacked in two waves, had reduced the earning power of the labouring classes and resisting power of the agricultural classes. Failure of crops coupled with these causes produced distress which in certain parts deepened into famine.

The decade opened badly. In 1920-21 crops again failed due to failure of monsoon which proved to be one of the worst on record. Scarcity or famine were once more declared over large areas. The scarcity which thus followed was in respect of crop failure and high prices and perhaps the severest ever experienced. However, owing to the increased resisting power of the people, ascribed to the comparatively favourable conditions of the preceding years, it was one of the mildest in respect of the visible degree of distress. It should also be noted that perfection of relief measures based on previous experience mitigated the primary effect of the famine.

In 1921-22, the Province reaped good harvests, prices fell substantially, trade showed considerable recovery and thus the effects of the famine were virtually removed. The year 1922-23 also witnessed a further improvement in the economic conditions of the Province. Steady march towards normal conditions continued up to the year 1925-26. Though the 1925 monsoon was badly distributed crops were satisfactory except in two to three districts. Health also remained good. But in 1926-27 the general economic conditions did not remain as good as those in the years immediately preceding. There were plague and cholera epidemics in several parts of the Province. Floods in the riverine tracts caused great damage to life and property.

The year 1927-28 was a season of great expectations not fully realized. Although conditions of prosperity prevailed in some parts of the Province, this year may be said to be the first of a series which led to the depression of 1930. In parts of the district there was again a failure of crops in 1928-29 due to heavy frost. The slump in cotton prices which had begun in 1926-27 continued and the shadow of the impending depression was becoming more and more evident.

In 1929-30, there followed another unsatisfactory season in some of the northern districts. In Berar cotton price touched an exceptionally low level. On the whole it proved to be a favourable season both for kharif and rabi crops in the Nagpur and Chhatisgad divisions but less so to the rest of the Province. There was an extraordinary fall in the prices of foodgrains and hence the comparatively good crops of 1930 failed to give any adequate return to the agriculturists. An unhealthy year was disclosed by the Public Health Report for 1930. Several districts suffered from attacks by epidemics like cholera, plague and small-pox. Influenza was also reported in a mild form. Malaria caused heavy mortality from the month of August onwards. Trade declined both in volume and value. In the cotton growing districts a depression in the textile trade made itself felt. The decade thus ended on a note of pessimism. The world wide trade depression was one of the principal causes of gloomy outlook. With the prices of agricultural produce wages also fell correspondingly and the only people who really benefited were the ones who drew fixed salaries.

As the foregoing description for the period since 1900 contains hardly any specific reference to Wardha district but describes in general the conditions in the Province as a whole it is pertinent to note here the Report of the Deputy Commissioner for the decade 1921-31 in respect of Wardha district " The increase in population for the whole district is 11. 3 per cent. There was no scarcity during the decennial period and there were serious epidemics only in the years 1921 (influenza), 1926 (small-pox, plague and influenza), 1927 (cholera) and 1930 (cholera). For the greater part of the year people were prosperous and health conditions were satisfactory. But for a large increase in the Hinganghat tahsil however the increase would have been considerably less. As was to be expected the population of the larger towns has increased at a much higher rate, and Wardha and Arvi towns show increases of over 20 per cent. "

The years that followed the great famine of 1930 were comparatively free of acute famines and scarcities. Though there is no denying the fact that scarcities did occur sometimes yet prompt measures were taken to alleviate the distress caused. The distress and sufferings which used to be acute during the previous years of famines were reduced considerably not only by the help rendered by the government but also by private social and charitable organisations. Efforts were also made to check the soaring prices of food grains on the one hand and supply enough potable water even in the remotest villages. The development plans including the community development plans and irrigation projects to reduce the dependability of harvests on the vagaries of monsoon have also gone a long way in warding of scarcities.

In 1965-66, there were conditions akin to scarcity in 833 villages throughout the district covering a population of 3,82,060. Full suspension of revenue was granted in 67 villages. No scarcity works were required to be started as the existing 149 works were sufficient to provide adequate employment. Tagai loans under the Agricultural Loans Act to the tune of Rs. 63,57,794 for the purchase of bullocks, etc., were granted. Under the non-Agricultural Loans Act a further sum of Rs. 63,850 was disbursed. [ Socio-Economic Review and District Statistical Abstract, Wardha District, 1965-66.]

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