Measures of State Support During the Famine of the 1930s in Central Kazakhstan

In the article, the authors consider measures to provide state aid during the famine of the 1930s in the territory of Central Kazakhstan. The purpose of the article is to consider in the regional aspect the main measures taken in Central Kazakhstan as the main measures to eliminate the consequences of hunger and to provide food assistance to the starving population. Based on archival documents and collections of materials, the authors managed to identify that the state has worked out several ways to help the hungry in order to eliminate the consequences of hunger. First, it is the provision of food, industrial goods and loans to starving areas. Secondly, the issuance of permits for the maintenance of livestock in settled areas to restore livestock production, and thirdly, a reduction in the grain delivery plan, or exemption from it, as well as a reduction or exemption from the unified agricultural tax. Using the example of the Nurinsky district, the authors analyze the implementation of the main decisions of state authorities to eliminate the consequences of famine. The authors of the article conclude that despite the fact that the state handed over wheat, millet and other food support to the hungry, the assistance provided was not insufficient and was delayed. The authors, having studied materials of the archival fund of the Nurinsky district, identified a list of collective farms that received food aid in the form of grain, wheat and other crops, and came to the following conclusion. Firstly, the food aid provided by the state turned out to be late, since at the time of its arrival, famine reached its peak, farms fell into decline, the population died out, and the survivors were forced to migrate; secondly, the amount of aid provided by the state was insufficient to solve the food problem; thirdly, food aid was distributed not only without taking into account the size of farms, but also not for their intended purpose; fourthly, the state authorities failed to correct the current situation in the Kazakh villages.