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operate with governments, which are permanent establishments., and to
assist them in developing men and methods to meet the enormous health
problems with which the country is faced.
8. KING GEORGE THANKSGIVING (ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS) FUND.
Tuberculosis control in India has developed slowly as compared with
countries of the West and is still in its infancy. The creation of an All-
India Organization for tuberculosis control as at present represented by the
King George Thanksgiving Fund, was the result of a slow and gradual
realisation of the increasing importance of tuberculosis as a killing and
disabling disease.
In 1927 Lord Irwin, Viceroy and Governor-General of India, realised the
gravity of the problem and wished to form a central organisation on the
model of the National Tuberculosis Association of Great Britain. The
opportunity came in 1929 when the recovery of His Majesty the late King
Emperor George V from a serious illness evoked very warm felicitations
from his subjects throughout the Empire. In India they found loyal
expression in the form of a Thanksgiving Fund for the alleviation and pre
-
vention of disease. The Fund amounted to over Rs. 9½ lakhs and His
Excellency the Viceroy appointed a small Advisory Committee consisting
of the Hon'ble Member for Education, Health and Lands Department,
Director-General, Indian Medical Service, and the Public Health Commis
-
sioner with the Government of India, to advise him on the merits of the
various schemes submitted to him for utilisation of the Fund. After fullest
consideration the Committee recommended that an anti-tuberculosis scheme
was the one that was most likely to be of real service to India. Their
recommendation was adopted in consultation with official and no-official
opinion in different provinces.
2. The administration of the Fund was handed over to the Indian Red
Cross Society for anti-tuberculosis work in India. The work was entrusted
to an ad hoc committee, who appointed an Organising Secretary as their
technical and propaganda officer. Thus came into being a special anti
-
tuberculosis organisation now known as the King George Thanksgiving
(Anti-Tuberculosis) Fund.
3. The Fund is the nucleus of anti-tuberculosis campaign and represents
the national effort for fight against tuberculosis. The Director-General,
Indian Medical Service, is the Chairman and is assisted by a Committee of
12 members, both official and non-official including ladies. All its activities
are conducted on the interest of the Fund (Rs. 53,000 a year). The income
being limited, it is devoted at present entirely to prevention and educational
measures. The following is a review of the main activities.
Provincial and State Branches.— All the work is done through the
Provincial and State Branches of which 16 have so far been organised in
provinces and in important Indian States. At present they function as
Sub-Committees of the Provincial and State Red Cross Societies. These
committees include the heads of the Medical and Public Health Depart
-
ments, and public men representing all shades of opinion. The Committees
receive financial assistance from the Central Fund and carry out educative
propaganda through material prepared at headquarters.
Contributed by Dr. B. K. Sikand, M.B., D.P.H.