Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 10 (2nd edition).pdf/476



464 ORISSA. missioner telegraphed to Government as follows :-Rice with utmost difficulty procurable in insufficient quantity at 41 sers (105 tolis) per rupee. Básárs again partially closed. Only one day's rations in store for troops, who are reported discontented. Commissariat have refused assistance ; crime increasing daily. Public works and relief works stopped for want of food. I recommend immediate importation of rice for use of troops, for jails, and to feed labourers on relief works and to supply food to starving through Relief Committees. Rice can be landed at Balasor river, False Point, or inouth of Dhámrá river for Cuttack. I will arrange to do so. Mahájans (merchants) would supply on their own account, if Government gave a tug steamer to tow ships down the coast; no rains, and the early-sown rice crop in danger.' This telegram was followed up by one from the Cuttack Local Relief Committee to Government on the 20th May:- The Committee. observing that the market price of the very coarsest rice is 31 Cuttack sers per rupee, and that supplies to any amount, even at that high price, are not procurable, resolved that an urgent application be made to the Government of Bengal for importation of one lákh of rupees (£10,000) worth of rice direct from Calcutta to False Point by steamer.' On the same day, the Lieutenant-Governor directed the Board of Revenue to at once arrange for sending rice from Calcutta to Balasor, False Point, and Dhánrá, as proposed by the Commissioner. Meanwhile the Committee had been extending their operations for gratuitous relief. In June, orders were given to send 500 mauna's of rice to Kendrápárá, and to raise the daily allowance to each pauper there. Gratuitous distributions were commenced at False Point; six branch relief houses were opened in Cuttack town; and it was resolved to open centres at Jajpur, Táldanda, and two other places in different parts of the District, besides that already opened at Kendrápárá. Rice was also entrusted to the officers of the Irrigation Company for distribution. The Superintending Engineer had promised to provide light labour for those who, though not up to full work, were capable of doing something, and who were to be remunerated by a daily portion of food from the Committee's centres. The introduction of this light labour considerably reduced the number of those receiving gratuitous relief. During July, resolutions were passed that, in the light labour yard, a certain minimum of daily work should be rejuired from each pauper, on the performance of which he should be entitled to rations; and that any work done in excess of the minimum should be paid for upon a scale which would enable an industrious man to earn an innú a day in addition to his rations; that persons in receipt of more than Rs. 10 (£1) a month should be allowed to purchase rice from the Committee