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district was bifurcated under sanction conveyed in G.O. No. 1235-P.H., dated
5th September 1922, and an additional Health Inspector was posted to Gumsur.
The increase in the number of Health Inspectors and Vaccinators as com-
pared with the previous years was due to the introduction of the District Health
Scheme in 5 districts, viz., Tanjore, Trichinopoly, Vizagapatam, Kistna and
Kurnool.
11. In G.O. No. 817-P.H., dated 10th June 1922, a uniform time-scale of pay
on Rs. 60—5—120 was sanctioned to all Health Inspectors. A selection grade on
Rs. 125—5—150 was fixed for 15 per cent of the total number of appointments.
12. The new scheme of vaccination was in operation throughout the Presi-
dency, but the group system was not adopted in certain districts. There was a
decided improvement in the quality of work turned out as compared with that
under the old scheme.
13. The main obstacles that still stand in the way of progress in vaccination
are—
(1) Apathy and lack of willing co-operation on the part of the village
officers mainly due to their ignorance of the benefits of vaccination, indifference of
the higher revenue authorities and the unsatisfactory state of both birth and
unprotected registers.
(2) Laxity of enforcement of the compulsory provisions.
(3) Inadequate punishment awarded by the magistracy in vaccination
cases.
(4) Non-introduction of compulsory vaccination.
(5) Poor quality of recruits for vaccinators' posts, which are only applied
for as a last resort. The Government in their Order Mis. No. 354-P.H., dated 1st
March 1923, observed that a uniform scale is neither necessary nor desirable since
vaccinators are not normally transferred from one district to another. The result
is that vaccinators working even in the same district do not receive a uniform
scale, while Taluk Boards for reasons of economy frequently give preference
to second-class men in filling up vacancies.
Until vaccination and registration of births and deaths are made compulsory
in all rural areas without exception and until the Revenue Officers are prepared
to compel the village officers by disciplinary measures to maintain their registers
properly and render the vaccination staff all assistance, these obstacles will remain.
In the Agency, the extensive area of the ranges, the lack of means of
communication and the frequent sickness of the staff all prevent rapid progress.
Proposals for the formation of 4 more ranges have been submitted to Government
by the District Medical and Sanitary Officer, Agency Division, through the
Agency Commissioner.
14. The following table exhibits the total vaccination work performed by all
agencies throughout the Presidency :—
—
Primary vaccination, (including secondary) ...
Re-vaccination
...
...
...
...
...
Total ...
1920-21.
1,388,598
179,672
1,568,270
1921-22.
1,298,094
176,625
1,474,719
1922-23.
1,436,033
325,588
1,761,616
Compared with the two previous years the total number of vaccination opera-
tions performed during 1922-23 shows a marked and satisfactory increase.
The reasons that may be assigned for the increase are—
(1) The widespread prevalence of smallpox throughout the Presidency.
(2) The large number of unregistered births and out-births detected during
the period of suspension of routine vaccination.
(3) The increase in the minimum prescribed for vaccinators.
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