Page:Bulandshahr- Or, Sketches of an Indian District- Social, Historical and Architectural.djvu/47

 subscription was raised in 1864 to build the English school. Only part of the money was expended at the time and the balance was invested in the 4 per cents. Twenty years later, an additional class-room becomes necessary. The Committee naturally propose to provide funds for the purpose by selling out part of their Government stock. The Collector communicates this proposal to the Commissioner at the head of the Division; and he, after recording his opinion, sends it on to the Director of Public Instruction at Naini Tal, who forwards it with a recommendation to the Secretary to Government. Sanction is thereupon accorded, which is conveyed through the same circuitous channel to the Committee. Their Secretary then applies to the Accountant General at Allahabád. The latter writes to the Comptroller General at Calcutta, who eventually remits the money to the district to which it belongs. It must be borne in mind that the particular fund in question is in no sense Government property, but belongs solely and exclusively to the local Committee, which had originally raised it by their own efforts for the identical purpose on which they now desire to employ it. But even so, it is not allowed to be kept in the Treasury as a simple deposit, but has to be credited to the Public Works accounts and must be drawn in instalments, each of which requires a formal application and has to be verified by numerous signatures and vouchers, all of which are sent for scrutiny to Allahabad. In this particular case, the procedure, cumbrous as it is, is yet comparatively simple. It involves an inevitable delay of some months, but is otherwise free from serious complications. When, however, the consent of more than one department has to be obtained, before local action can be commenced, the worry to be undergone is immensely increased. If the committee had greater freedom, it would soon acquire the confidence of the public, and become the ordinary channel for the distribution of the many streams of private benevolence, which are now too often wasted for want of effective direction.

It is one of the most convincing proofs of the general incapacity for self-government, that in many towns and villages, accumulated funds are often left unutilized, and local improvements—that every one desires—are unexecuted, simply on account of jealousy and a want of mutual confidence. If the district officer will take upon himself the responsibility of administration, the community is only too glad to place the money at his disposal and to supplement it by further subscriptions. They will not trust it to