Report On The Administration Of The Punjab And Its Dependencies(1867-68)

· 1868 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

2PUNJAB ADMINISTRATION REPORT.

3[ 1867*68.

4the British Government, and of the measures of improvement effected

5durin^T the first year of administration. These measures of improvement

6have been carried on with energy and success during the year under report.

7During the year every department of the State has been re-organized and

8placed on a better footing.

98. Tn the Police the pay of all ranks has been raised, so that no one

10is in receipt of less than Rs. 5 Pu month, and the jnen and officers have

11been divided into grades, so as to hold out to each a prospect of promotion

12for good service.

130. The Army has been re-cast, and the pay of the sepoys raised to

14Rs. 5 ])or mensem, being an increase of Rs. 2 per mensem on the pay

15heretofore received by them — an amount wholly inadequate to their wants.

1610. In the Revenue Department y a new system of accounts, similar to

17that ill force in British India, has been introduced, and an annual budget of

18ineonie and expenditure prepared. The system is working excellently, and

19the general treasury accounts, which were heretofore in hopeless confu-

20sion and arrears, are now made up ivithin 20 dayn of the close of each 7nonth.

2111. The Charitable grants and pensions of former Rulers, amounting to

22Rs. 84,000 per annum, have been enquired into, and when supported by

23satisfactory evidence confirmed.

2412. State debts to the amount of Rs. 98,000 have been paid off, and

25it is hoped that the entire public debt will be liquidated in three years.

2613. The Revenue has been collected with ease, and it is expected that

27on the 1st October 1808 there will be a cash balance of Rs. 2,00,000.

2814. In the Judicial Department the powers of Magistrates have been

29defined, and provision made for securing a record of cases and affording

30suitable facilities for appeal. During the year, 3,997 persons were appre-

31herided for offences, of whom 2,494 were convicted and 944 acquitted,

32leaving 209 cases under trial at the close of the year. Murders (connected

33with women) were numerous ; and the number of iheftsy and especially cattle

34thefts^ was high in proportion to the population ; but house-breaking,

35dacoity, robbery, and other heinous crimes, were rare.

3615. Public works have received great attention. A. jail has been built

37at Bhawalpur, and placed under the charge of the Civil Surgeon, and

38arrangements are in progress for introducing the system of separate con-

39fineinont.

4016. Dispensaries have been established at Bhawalpur and Ahmadpur,

41and are largely resorted to. In these institutions native hakims are em-

42ployed as much as possible; and arrangements are being made for educating

43a number of young men, the sons of native practitioners, in the European

44system of medicine, so as to fit them for the charge of dispensaries here-

45after.

4617. But the greatest efforts have been directed to what is a crying want

47in this ar/l region — the extension of irrigation from the great rivers : a large

48i^igatior canaLhas been commenced in the eastern or desert portion of

49tl\ Stfit^ an^Jie first 22 miles, with an average depth of 10 feet and

50wid^x 0^50 will be opened on the 20th June. To meet the cost of