39
If I insisted and took steps to ensure that the vaccinators did their work well, I deemed
it equally my duty to stand by them and see that they received the full value of their labour.
In most parts of Káthiáwád it was the custom to grant certain batta to the vaccinators.
This had been withheld since the vaccination department had been made over to me by the
Native States. The vaccinators from idling and sending in imaginary returns were made to
work, and punished if lazy ; or if their registers were found incorrect. But to work more
and receive less pay is not encouraging, and as I have stated, several vaccinators resigned
and more would have done so, had not Colonel Anderson issued instructions to the Native
States not to withdraw the batta they formerly gave. In most instances this recommenda-
tion was not attended to, and complaints still reached me on the subject; I pointed out that,
according to the present management, there were no more Bháwanagar, Jámnagar, Dharol,
&c., vaccinators, but that all were now Káthiáwád vaccinators, and that the men were so
distributed, that the whole population of Káthiáwád would reap the benefits of vaccination ;
but I greatly feared that this desirable end might not be obtained, and that many localities
would probably remain neglected, unless some understanding were arrived at on the question
of batta with all the Native Chiefs and Landlords of Káthiáwád. Let us suppose, I said,
that " A has been vaccinating in a district where he receives batta, and that he removes to
another district, where no batta is given ; it is not probable that he will long carry on his
work in these villages." I accordingly proposed that whilst a man be working in a given
locality the Chief or Landlord should give him the batta he is entitled to. I had occasion
to bring this question to the notice of the Kárbhárí of Wallá, and that Officer objecting to
batta in kind, promised to give, as compensation to the vaccinators, whilst working in his
territory, a sum of Rupees 5 per mensem. I accordingly suggested that some such arrange-
ment should be accepted, so that the vaccinators should not be put to a loss, whatever might
be the locality where their work might call them.
After consulting together, the Representatives of the Native States agreed to the follow-
ing Resolution :—
" We decline giving batta to the vaccinators. At a meeting held on the 5th July 1871,
Dr. Blanc stated that the expenditure of the vaccination department was Rupees 10,740, and
that he would spend less. For the first year he said that he would require Rupees 10,000,
and that for the following years Rupees 9,876 would be sufficient.
" The Tálukdárs having agreed to this, decline giving anything more. Up to August
last the amount expended by the Tálukdárs was Rupees 10,740, they will continue to spend
that amount, and they will allow yearly that sum to the Doctor for the vaccination depart-
ment. But should it be found that the sum is insufficient to meet the expenditure, then the
balance should be paid by the Government Thánás ; but at the same time, the number of
Thánás in each Native State should be considered, so that a double expenditure may not
devolve on the same State.
" We agree to the proposal regarding the introduction of Village Registers."
I did not consider that Resolution either just or fair, and on its receipt I laid the case
before the Political Agent in all its bearings. A summary of my communication on the
subject is as follows :—
When I received charge of the vaccination establishment in Káthiáwád 48 vaccinators
were employed, of them 9 were paid by Government. On the 1st of August 1871 eight of
them were transferred to other Circles or otherwise provided for, and one of them was
appointed Station Vaccinator of Rájkot. At that date 39 Native States' vaccinators were
employed. This number of vaccinators was reduced by me from 39 to 32, the reduction was