Page:Provincial geographies of India (Volume 4).djvu/129

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xii]
ADMINISTRATION
113

Burmese officers. The employment of Burmans in charges of responsibility has been much extended in recent years. In 1908, the first tentative appointment of a Burman (really an Arakanese) to the charge of a light district was hazarded. In July, 1921, four districts were in charge of Burmans, including two important Lower Burma districts[1].

Quite recently (1922) District Councils and Circle Boards

Fig. 45. At the well.

Fig. 45. At the well.

have been established in most districts, for the purpose of educating the mass of the people in self-government. Circle Boards control groups of village tracts; their members are elected by popular vote, women having the franchise. Members of District Councils are elected by Circle Boards. Officials are not eligible for seats in either of these assemblies; and official interference is jealously excluded. These Councils and Boards are to administer vernacular education, vaccination, hospitals, markets, veterinary dis-

  1. In July, 1922, there were only two Burmese Deputy Commissioners.