4
Health Association opened numerous centres where gratuitous treatment is
afforded to kala-azar patients. In 1924-25, Government sanctioned the pay-
ment of Rs. 30,000 to district boards and of Rs. 5,000 each to the Bengal
Central Anti-Malaria Co-operative Society and to the Bengal Health Associa-
tion for anti-kala-azar work. Admirable work has been done at the special
centres to which a very large number of kala-azar patients resort. The
Governor in Council is convinced that efficient medical relief can be provided
at a comparatively small cost by assisting local bodies and voluntary agency
with small grants from provincial revenues.
Sanitary Engineering.—Sixteen water-supply and sewerage and drainage
projects were prepared and three detailed projects of municipal water-
supply drawn up by the Chief Engineer, Public Health Department, in 1923.
Fifteen water-supply, drainage and sewerage projects were under construc-
tion in 1923. Two water-supply projects were completed, one sewerage
and one water-supply scheme were almost completed and one water-supply
scheme was abandoned during the year under review. The total capital
expenditure on water-supply in 1923 was Rs 5,83,426. The total expendi-
ture on municipal drainage and sewerage works was Rs. 5,32,644. The
report of the Committee appointed to enquire into the water-supply of the
west bank of the Hooghly was received. The Committee came to the conclusion
that the only type of scheme suitable for the municipalities in the riparian
area which had no public water-supply was a tube well supply of a limited
quantity. Copies of the report were forwarded to the municipalities
concerned.
Personal.—The Member in charge of the Local Self-Government Depart-
ment desires to record his appreciation of Dr. Bentley's valuable work as
Director of Public Health and Mr. G. B. Williams' efficient administration of
the Engineering Branch of the Department. Dr. Bentley's enthusiasm and
his unremitting study of the public health problems of Bengal have had a
great influence on the local bodies of the Presidency, and their genuine
concern and desire for the improvement of the public health must be largely
attributed to his labours.
The scope of the Engineering Branch has been greatly restricted by the
meagre resources of local bodies ; it is often years before a municipality can
complete its financial arrangements for a water-supply scheme, but there are
nevertheless few municipalities which do not give such a scheme priority
over all other capital expenditure and the number of towns possessing a pure
supply increases each year. The Member in charge of the Department
desires also to acknowledge the valuable work of Mr. K. P. Roy, the Publicity
Officer, who, with most inadequate means, has done a great deal to instil into
the public some knowledge of the elementary principles of public and private
hygiene.
The thanks of Government are due also to the Sanitary Board, whose
advice on questions of policy has often been of great value.
Rai Bahadur Gopal Chandra Chatterjee, M.B., Honorary Secretary of the
Central Co-operative Anti-malaria Society, the Bengal Health Association
and the Bengal Social Service League have done splendid work in harnessing
voluntary effort to the cause of public health. It is not easy to keep alive
philanthropic movements of this kind, but these societies have done much
to organise the large number of people who are anxious to assist in the great
task of eradicating or abating disease in Bengal.
It is only when voluntary effort of this kind is fully utilised that any
striking and permanent improvement of the public health will be attained.
By order of the Governor in Council,
S. W. GOODE,
Secretary to the Government of Bengal.