Colonial India witnessed severe famine during mid-eighteenth century like The Great Bengal famine 1770; the Chalisa famine of 1783–1784; Doji bara famine of Madras 1791–1792. Apathetic behaviour of British rulers.
Reasons of famine:
- The famines were a product both of uneven rainfall and British economic and administrative policies.
- Partial failure of crops was quite a regular occurrence.
- Proximate causes of famine comprise localized natural disasters (a cyclone, storm surges and flooding, and rice crop disease) combined with the consequences of war.
- East India Company (EIC) kept the famine relief as cheap as possible, with minimum cost to the colonial exchequer.
- Colonial policies implicated include rack-renting, levies for war, free trade policies, the expansion of export agriculture, and neglect of agricultural investment.
- Indian exports of opium, rice, wheat, indigo, jute, and cotton were a key component of the economy as well as stopping rice imports.
- East India Company raised taxes from 10-15% to 50% in Bengal region after Treaty of Allahabad 1765.
- Increasing debt bondage of peasants.
- The government prioritized military and defence needs over those of famine affected.
By acknowledging moral responsibility, the government launched relief measures like Famine Code, Famine commissioner; etc. to reduce famine impact in future.