282 THE MAKING OF FEDERAL INDIA

destiny ; and it is in this spirit of despair that one finds
a true explanation of that monotonous melancholy which
broods over the land.

The primary duty of the Provincial Legislatures should
be to formulate a coherent policy of rural reconstruction.1
Acquiescence in things as they are until they become a
serious menace or mere adoption of palliative measures will
not do. This problem of attacking the poverty of the great
bulk of Indian people requires a bold initiative. Indian
leaders, on whom lies the responsibility of future Govern-
ments, should scrutinize the existing agricultural legislation
on land tenures, agricultural credit, control of usury, and
marketing of agricultural produce, with a view to bringing it
into line with modern requirements.

The Government enact measures for the good of the
people, but there is at present no living channel through
which they may know the effects of these laws on the
people. The official files do not tell the whole story and
often tend to conceal the need for enquiry by the pretence
of tact and prudence. During the last half-century, for
example, various laws, regulations and rules were passed for
the benefit of the masses ; but recent enquiries as to whether
they had fulfilled the purposes for which they were enacted,
revealed in some instances a deplorable negligence and
indifference towards their enforcement.

It is hoped that the structure of the present Administra-
tion may be adapted to the spirit of the new Constitution
in such a manner as to make the contact between the official
world and the people more real and effective than in the
past. The aloofness of the official world from the people
develops a peculiar attitude of official nescience, and the
people show distrust of anything that emanates from the
official hierarchy. The task allotted to Indian leaders is
to bridge the gap between the Government and the people.

1 The Government of India have recently allocated about -£700,000 to
the Provincial Governments for economic development in rural areas and
^112,500 for expansion of the Co-operative movement in India.