What types of relief did the Indian Famine Code provide for people unable to work?

The Indian Famine Code of 1883, established during British rule in India, provided a structured framework for government intervention during periods of food scarcity.1

For individuals who were physically unable to participate in labor-intensive programs, the code mandated the provision of gratuitous relief. This form of assistance was designed to ensure that vulnerable populations—such as the elderly, the infirm, or those otherwise incapacitated—received necessary support when they could not engage in the code's established food-for-work initiatives.1

The failure to implement these official responses, as seen during the Bengal famine of 1943, often exacerbated the severity of such disasters.1