INDIA is verily the land of poverty and hunger. These are the heritage of the labouring classes, whether they belong to the land, factory or home industry, and they form the great majority of the population. The indebtedness of agriculture classes all over Indian is well-know. They are under the clutches of money-lenders and not even the stringent provisions of the Land Alienation Prevention Acts of the Punjab and Bundelkhand have made the solvent. The laws have only give a change of masters who extort anything over 30 per cent. interest. The land revenue is increasing and agriculture indebtedness is a standing barrier to modern improvements. We have been piously hoping that an escape from this unhappy situation will be possible when industries are established and when our half-starving land labourers become factory workers. But what is the economic position of the average factory hand? Doubtless he moves from village to town and from town to cities.
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