§ Mr. GALLACHERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the famine conditions in the Central Provinces in June last; that, in the village of Dhudia, in the district of Betul, a Gond woman sold her son for one rupee to save him and herself from starvation; and that a Korku tribesman named Mahasingh died of starvation in the same district; what action the Government of India proposes to take to meet the situation; and whether other provinces of India are suffering from famine?
§ Mr. BUTLERCrop conditions in the Central Provinces have been generally satisfactory this year. I have no in-1530W formation about the second and third parts of the question. As regards the last part of the question, conditions of scarcity exist in certain parts of Bengal where steps have been taken by the Government of the Province to meet the situation. I have not received any reports of serious distress from other Provinces.