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CHAPTER XIV,

is no less great. In more than one centre in India we have seen the
attempts being made by voluntary organisations, such as the Red Cross
Society in Calcutta, to provide training for health visitors, and these
pioneer efforts have demonstrated the possibility of obtaining suitable
women for work of this kind. It may not always be necessary for Gov-
ernments to open their own training schools, although this has been done
in two provinces, but we think that the time has come when the training
should be standardised by instituting a Government diploma which
should be the recognised qualification required of all women aspiring
to such posts.
In a number of municipal areas and in certain industrial con-
cerns a beginning has been made in the development of child welfare
work, and instances came to our notice which enable us to appreciate
the results to be achieved by women working almost single-handed. We
have also seen excellent work in progress in centres organised by the
more progressive employers, those of the Cawnpore Woollen Mills,
the Empress Mills in Nagpur and a few of the jute mills deserving of
special mention. But these efforts are unfortunately isolated and few
in number and, more often than not, they have failed to develop along
proper lines because neither trained health visitors nor medical supervi-
sion by a woman doctor were available. Both are essential if welfare
work of this nature is to succeed. For the larger cotton and jute indus-
trial areas we commend the suggestion made to us that a group of mills or
factories should combine to form a scheme in which each mill has its own
welfare centre and health visitor, medical supervision and control being
carried out by a woman doctor paid for by the group. Where single units
are of great size, asin the jute industry, the management may prefer to
have the full-time services of a woman doctor. This has been done by
the Angus Jute Mill Company with great advantage in connection with
both medical and welfare work. We have already recommended the
appointment of a woman Assistant Director of Public Health in certain
provinces for the organisation, co-ordination and supervision of all forms
of welfare work among women and children undertaken by public autho-
rity. Her advice should also be at the disposal of employers desiring
to initiate and develop welfare schemes for their women employees.
We suggest that, as in the case of medical facilities, it should be possible,
at least in the larger industrial areas, for Government, local authorities
and industrial managements to co-operate in the development of child
welfare centres and women’s clinics. In some cases the employers might
prefer to carry out their own schemes, but in each area the co-operation
we have suggested should make it possible for municipal councils, in
developing their own welfare schemes, to take cognisance of employers’
efforts and so plan their organisations as gradually to meet the
needs of the whole community. For approved schemes, financial aid
in the form of percentage grants should be given by Government.
Acceptance of grants would imply inspection and supervision and
the maintenance of a reasonable standard of efficiency, while the financial
help would supply the impetus to progressive advance which is at present
30 generally lacking.