7
of the Matron of the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum was raised and the full
staff of the latter Lunatic Asylum was employed throughout the year. The
expenditure for that year was therefore Rs. 1,169 more than in 1919.
In spite of the large saving in the expenditure at Bhawanipur on diet in
1919 and 1920, when the cost amounted to Rs. 273 and Rs. 517 only against
Rs. 7,094 in 1918, the cost on account of diet of patients of all Lunatic
Asylums, taken together, increased by 22.9 per cent. in 1919 and 34.1
per cent. in 1920 in comparison to that for 1918. The cause requires no
explanation. The average cost per head worked out to Rs. 112-12-8 and
Rs. 126-12 in 1919 and 1920, respectively, against Rs. 85-3-5 in 1918.
The expenditure of the Berhampore Lunatic Asylum for bazar medicines
increased from Rs. 121-7-6 in 1918 to Rs. 439-6-6 in 1919 and to Rs. 1,267-8-3
in 1920 In 1919 and 1920 materials were purchased for the investigation
and treatment of Hookworm, Tuberculosis and Influenza.
Building charges amounted to Rs. 15,048, Rs. 71,636 and Rs. 1,24,064 in
the 3 years respectively. The expenditure for 1919 includes a sum of
Rs. 64,640 spent on the construction of the new Observation Ward. In 1920
a further sum of Rs. 1,04,414 was spent for the same purpose and also
Rs. 8,373 for the construction of a barrack at Dacca for male lunatics and for
raising the low parts of its compound wall. The repairs to the Berhampore
Lunatic Asylum buildings also cost Rs. 9,864 in that year.
Statement IX.
22. Establishment.—On the closure of the Bhawanipur Lunatic Asylum
some of the staff were taken over by the Ranchi Asylum, some re-employed
in the temporary Observation Ward and the rest abolished. The following
establishment was sanctioned, at the outset, for running the temporary
Observation Ward :—
1 Deputy Superintendent of the
Civil Assistant Surgeon class.
1 Clerk.
1 Head male keeper.
3 Male keepers.
1 Head female keeper.
1 Female keeper.
1 Mehter.
1 Mehtrani.
1 Sweeper.
1 Cook and khitmatgar.
1 Kitchen servant.
1 Durwan.
1 Peon.
1 Harkara.
1 Head Mali.
1 Mali.
1 Bhisti.
Subsequently in 1919, when after a few months' working it was found
that the above staff was not sufficient, an additional staff of 2 more
female keepers, 1 tailor and 1 dhobi was sanctioned, and the Superin-
tendent was authorised to employ, when necessary, a further temporary
staff of 1 keeper, 1 mehter and 1 mehtrani. Sanction has been obtained
in 1920 to the employment in the new Observation Ward, when it is
opened this year, of a further additional staff, consisting of 1 head
and 4 ordinary male keepers, 3 durwans, 2 cooks, 1 head and 3 ordinary
female keepers, 1 mehtrani, 1 sweeper, 1 mali, 2 khitmatgars, 1 barber
and 1 compounder. At Berhampore a second compounder was employed
towards the end of the year 1918, as the work was too heavy for one man. In
that year the pay of the clerks was revised, and in 1920 that of the matron.
Sanction was also accorded last year to an increased scale of pay for the keep-
er and menial establishment of this Asylum, which was to come into effect
after the war allowance which they were drawing had ceased. The staff was,
however, not satisfied with the new scale, as it fell short of their demand,
nor with the date of effect. So a more liberal scale of pay was sanctioned
early this year, having effect from 1st April 1920. But the keepers were still
discontented, and a further advancement of pay has been sanctioned for them,
with effect from 1st February 1921.
B