“The measures taken by the French to control the spread of bubonic plague in Hanoi created a serious problem". Explain the statement

CBSE Class 10 CBSE Class 10 Social Science
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“The measures taken by the French to control the spread of bubonic plague in Hanoi created a serious problem". Explain the statement.
OR
Describe the ‘Rat Hunt’ activity introduced by the French in Vietnam.

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  • HANOI was struck by bubonic plague. To stem this problem, a rat hunt was started in 1902.
  • The French hired Vietnamese workers and paid them for each rat they caught.
  • On 30th May, 20,000 rats were caught but still there seemed to be no end. This incident taught the Vietnamese the lesson of collective bargaining.
  • They discovered innovative ways to profit from the situation. The bounty was paid when a tail was given as proof that a rat had been killed.
  • Rat-catchers took to just clipping the tails and releasing the rats, So that the process could be repeated over and over again.
  • Defeated by the resistance of the Vietnamese, the French were forced to scrap the bounty programme.
  • Bubonic plague swept through the area in 1903 and in subsequent years.