Poor houses: The forgotten Intuitions
- The Indian Journal of Political Science
- 84(3), Jul-Sep, 2023: p.469-474
In the United Kingdom, poor houses, commonly referred to as workhouses, served as a refuge for the impoverished, providing shelter and employment opportunities to those in need. However, the concept took on a different form in India during the devastating famine of 1860-61. The first poor house in India was established to address the dire needs of the famine-stricken population. It became a significant state agency tasked with offering relief and saving lives during this crisis. These poor houses focused on distributing aid in the form of cooked food, ensuring immediate sustenance to the affected individuals, rather than providing grain or cash. This approach highlighted the state's commitment to providing tangible and accessible support to those who were most vulnerable during the calamity. – Reproduced
United Kingdom, poor house, workhouse, India, famine, 1860-61, first poor house, state agency, relief, famine-stricken population, cooked food, grain, cash.