5
over to the asylums for asylum purposes, &c., be deducted, the net cost would
be Rs. 2,67,287-7-9, as compared with Rs. 1,65,902-14-0 and Rs. 1,42,165-3-10
in 1907 and 1906 respectively. The increase in 1908 is mainly attributable to
the large amount spent on new works carried out by the Public Works Depart-
ment, viz., Rs. 1,10,476-0-8 against Rs. 29,131-0-11 in 1907 and Rs. 13,745-8-11
in 1906. Excluding these Public Works Department charges, the net expendi-
ture for the three years under review, as compared with the mean of the pre-
vious triennial period, will stand as under :—
Average ...
1908 ... ... ...
1907 ... ... ...
1906
...
...
...
1906—08 ... ... ...
1903—05 ... ... ...
Rs.
1,56,811
1,36,771
1,28,419
1,40,667
1,14,337
a.
7
13
10
10
1
p.
1
1
11
4
7
and the net cost per head of daily average strength would be Rs. 161-6-10
against Rs. 143-2-3 in 1907 and Rs. 138-7-1 in 1906, the mean for the triennial
periods 1906—08 and 1903—05 being Rs. 147-13-5 and Rs. 137-13-2 respectively.
The establishment cost Rs. 77,876-8-9, or Rs. 8,708-2-8 and Rs. 15,634-4-9
more than in the years 1907 and 1906 respectively. The increased charges
under this head are attributable to an increase of pay to asylum servants and the
entertainment of additional establishment at all the asylums, the full effect of
which is indicated in the figures for the year 1908, the mean cost for the trien-
nium 1906—08 being Rs. 69,762-3-3 as compared with Rs. 55,234-10-2 for the
previous three years 1903—05. The larger number of insanes treated during the
year and the abnormal rise in the price of food-grains, &c., account for an
increase in the expenditure on " diets " and " contingencies. " Under the former
head there was an increase of Rs. 10,269-0-5 and Rs. 13,334-8-4 and in the latter
of Rs. 1,453-7-11 and Rs. 2,195-0-9 respectively over the years 1907 and 1906.
The average cost on "diet " for the triennia 1903—05 and 1906—08 was
Rs. 62,715-12-10 and Rs. 78,494-14-6, and that on " contingencies " was
Rs. 11,884-3-4 and Rs. 13,778-14-7, respectively. The expenditure under the
headings "Bedding and Clothing " and "Medicines " shows a slight increase
over those of the two previous years, owing to the larger number of insanes
treated during the year 1908.
11. Different forms of recreation and amusements are encouraged and
provided for in all asylums. Insanes, who are able and willing to work, are
employed in the factories attached to the institutions, in the gardens and in
other extramural occupations. Rs. 2,178-12-5 were expended during the year
1908 for the amusements of insanes, as compared with Rs. 2,063-6-10 in 1907
and Rs. 1,779-9-11 in 1906, the average expenditure for the triennia 1903—05 and
1906—08 being Rs. 1,733-9-10 and Rs. 2,007-4-5 respectively.
12. The total receipts from the Manufacturing Department amounted to
Rs. 5,276-6-10 and debits to Rs. 1,625-2-5, showing a profit of Rs. 3,651-4-5 in
1908 against Rs. 3,997-8-11 in 1907 and Rs. 3,242-6-3 in 1906, the mean profit
for the triennial period 1906—08 being Rs. 3,630-6-6, or Rs. 827-4-4 more than
for the preceding triennium 1903—05.
13. During the year 1908 the official visitors were regular in their attend-
ance at all the asylums, excepting that at Ahmedabad the Assistant Collec-
tor of Sánand Táluka failed to attend the monthly meetings, though requested
to do so by the Superintendent of the Asylum several times, nor did he provide
a substitute as required by Government Resolution, General Department,
No. 104, dated 12th January 1874.
14. The management of the different asylums of the Presidency during
the triennium has been uniformly satisfactory, and the Superintendents indivi-
dually and collectively appear to have done all in their power with the means
at their command to alleviate the condition of the unfortunate people committed
to their care.
Probably the greatest difficulty experienced by Superintendents is that of
obtaining even tolerably useful men as warders for the asylums and they are
practically unanimous in the opinion that the present rate of pay is too small
B 2047—2