5
15. Escapes.—A non-criminal lunatic wandered out of the gate in 1912 but
was soon brought back to the asylum. The neglectful warders were suitably
punished. There were 2 escapes both in 1913 and in 1914. Out of them one
was captured in 1913 and one in 1914. Those warders who were found guilty
of neglect were either fined, dismissed or degraded according to the gravity of
their offence.
16. Statement VIII.—The total amount spent for the maintenance of this
asylum was Rs. 27,553-8-5 in 1912, Rs. 38,917-12-6 in 1913 and Rs. 43,266-6-2
in 1914, an average of Rs. 36,579-3-8 against Rs. 26,635-13-4 in the previous
triennium. The cost per head was Rs. 111-13-10, Rs. 141-7-8 and Rs. 149-14-11
respectively, for the three years under review.
The average cost per head excluding the Public Works Department charges
was Rs. 101-3-5 in 1912, Rs. 108-9-5 in 1913 and 103-3-6 in 1914.
The cost for establishment was Rs. 4,599-6-7 in 1912 or Rs. 18-10-9
per head, Rs. 5,423-10-11 or Rs. 19-11-6 in 1913 and Rs. 7,610-1-9 or
Rs. 26-5-11 in 1914, respectively. The increased expenditure of Rs. 824-4-4 in
1913 was mainly due to the revision of establishment sanctioned from 1st
November, payment of grain compensation allowance from March to June,
appointment of an acting clerk for about 2½ months in place of the permanent
incumbent who was on privilege leave, and also to the entertainment of some
extra warders. The large increase of Rs. 2,186-6-10 in 1914 was chiefly caused
by the addition of 10 warders and 2 jamadars to the subordinate staff in March,
by the grant of grain compensation allowance during the greater part of the
year, and entertainment of an acting clerk from 7th September to the end of
the year. Some extra warders were also appointed.
Charges on account of Superintendence amounted to Rs. 4,499-15-11 in
1912, Rs. 4,500-0-0 in 1913 and Rs. 4,500-0-0 in 1914.
The cost of diet was Rs. 11,707-3-9 in 1912, Rs. 15,457-6-6 in 1913 and
Rs. 13,112-13-0 in 1914, the cost per head being 47-8-6, Rs. 56-3-1 and
Rs. 45-7-0. Higher daily average strength and also higher rate paid for some
food-stuffs account for the increase in 1913, and the decrease in 1914 was due
mainly to Rs. 1,972-11-6 (cost of articles of diet purchased) not having been
included in the charge owing to the receipt of Government sanction for more
money after the close of the year.
Under the head of clothing and bedding the cost was Rs. 866-2-6 in 1912,
Rs. 712-4-0 in 1913 and Rs. 2-10-6 in 1914. The decrease in 1913 was mainly
due to non-purchase of gunny bedding. The large decrease in 1914 was due to
the exclusion of Rs. 1,867-13-6 (price of clothing and blankets) from the charges
as the bills for clothing were not paid and the price of 300 blankets remained
unpaid owing to the non-receipt of the bills.
The total charge on account of Europe and Bazar medicines was Rs. 276-0-1
in 1912, Rs. 465-6-2 in 1913 and Rs. 679-1-2 in 1914, the cost per head
being Rs. 1-1-11 in 1912, Rs. 1-11-1 in 1913, and Rs. 2-5-8 in 1914. The
increase of Rs. 189-6-1 in 1913 was partly due to indent for more medicines on
account of higher average sick and also to the addition of cost of cholera out-
fit for saline infusion. The increase in 1914 was chiefly caused by the purchase
of a large quantity of Albargin and Emetin Hydrochlor. More medicines
had also to be purchased. The number of average sick rose from 17.69 in
1913 to 23.96 in 1914.
The total expenditure on account of contingencies was Rs. 2,846-10-3 in
1912, Rs. 3,156-12-6 in 1913 and Rs. 3,752-9-6 in 1914; the cost per head being
Rs. 11-8-11, Rs. 11-7-7 and Rs. 13-0-1 respectively. The purchase of pugries
and winter uniform for warders accounts chiefly for the increase of expenditure
in 1913. The increase in 1914 was mainly due to the construction of a sentry-box
near the main gate, construction of walls round the bathing reservoir in the
female ward, extension of fly-proof verandah of the kitchen and purchase of
more disinfectants.
For rates and taxes Rs. 120 was paid in 1912, Rs. 132 in 1913 and Rs. 102 in
1914. The revision of house-tax was responsible for the increase in 1913, where-
as the decrease in 1914 was due to the non-payment of house-tax for the quarter
ending December 1914.