Now, gentlemen, what about sanitation? Shall I tell you the story of
how the people are dying in this country for want of sanitation for the
last few years? Listen to these figures.
In 1911-12--9 lacs of people died of malaria alone
In 1912-13--9·59 " " "
In 1913-14--9·65 " " "
In 1914-15--10·61 " " "
In 1915-16--10·64 " " "
So in five years we have had five million victims (Cries of Oh!) for
want of sanitation in this country. Five million men in five years!
More than the combined army of Great Britain and Ireland to-day! (Cries
of Oh!) We have had representations and opinions of experts and a few
experiments but what has really been done up to now? Are we to believe
that this fell disease could not have been eradicated if the Government
had taken active steps in that direction? Do you believe, gentlemen
that if the government is nationalised--effectively nationalised--we
cannot get rid of this disease? It is a matter of supreme importance
to us, to the growing nationality of Bengal. It means that every
year there is an increase in the number of deaths, it means want of
strength, it means decrease of national vitality, it means that at
not a very distant day we will be reduced to such a condition that it
will be impossible to regenerate us. (hear, hear). I have given you
only the number of people who die every year. But do we not see all
over the whole country malaria-stricken people living by chance as
it were--carrying on by some means or other, their miserable load of
existence? The whole of Bengal is full of these people and yet what has
the Government done? ('Nothing') Yes, practically nothing.