Page 434 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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MINORS DEPARTMENT

(From the Report of Mr. Mohammed Dowaiger, Superintendent of the Department)
The department dealt with eight estates and twenty compensation eases during the year,
the compensation eases, concerned workers in the oil company. Receipts under these headings
amounted to Rs. 52,742. The method, which has now been in use for many years, for dealing
with compensation claims from men employed by the oil company is for a committee consisting
of the Political Agent, the Manager of the Company and the Adviser to the Bahrain Govern­
ment to study each case and to assess the compensation due, using as a guide the Indian Work­
men’s Compensation Act. The Bahrain Government in similar eases refers to this Act to
determine compensation claims. The Minors Department acts as a distributing agency for
the compensation which is allotted and if the recipients are minor orphans it administers their
estates until they come of age.
The department had under its administration 511 different properties which were leased
for Rs. 181,000. Four properties were sold, for Rs. 65,970/-, and three properties were pur­
chased, for Rs. 17,927/-. The amount spent on repairs, upkeep and additions to property
was Rs. 45,686/-.

During the year Rs. 108,807/- was paid in allowances to 507 orphans and minors, under the
department’s administration, and Rs. 181,614/- was paid to persons attaining majority on their
taking over the administration of their property.
The funds of the department together with certain amounts deposited with the department
by the Government are given out on loan to the public at rates of interest which are very much
lower than those prevailing in the bazaar. The security for these loans is either gold or title
deeds of immoveable property. Interest is charged on a sliding scale, the larger the sum the
lower is the rate of interest. The department pays to the Government 3 per cent, interest on
the money which is lent to it by the Government but when lending this money to the public
it charges not less than 4 per cent, interest. The rate of interest on loans in the bazaar is about
20 per cent. The interest which is received from the funds of the minors is divided among them.
The average rate of interest charged by the department during the year was Rs. 6/3/4 per cent.

During 1371 the department paid out in new loans Rs. 19,32,550 ; loans outstanding from
the previous year amounted to Rs. 16,27,965/-, a total of Rs. 35,60,515/-. Repayments of loans
during the year amounted to Rs. 16,20,115/-. The amount of interest which was received from
loans was Rs. 1,18,503/-.

The Government deposited with the department the sum of 1 lakh bringing up the amount
of Government funds held by the department to Rs. 8,60,000°/-.

Receipts Expenditure
Balance from 1370 .. .. Rs. 14,261 11 11 Allowances and Maintenance Rs. 108,807 5 0
By Estates and Compensations 52,742 6 7 Purchases of Property 17,927 0 0
Rents 181,066 12 2 Upkeep and Additions to Property 45,686 6 0
Loans Repaid 1,620,115 8 0 Payments to Beneficiaries 143,639 10 9
Interest on Loans .. 118,503 8 9 Staff Salaries, etc. 38,004 13 0
From Government .. 100,000 0 0 Loans Advanced 1,932,550 0 0
Deposits 137,746 4 0 Balance in Bank 16,585 6 10
From Sales 65,970 6 0
Debts Recovered 12,746 0 0

Rs. 2,303,170 10 5 Rs. 2,303,170 10 5

The department receives an annual grant of Rs. 30,000/- from the Government towards
the cost of administration. It is managed by a committee of merchants under the presidency
of Shaikh Daij bin Hamed, a brother of His Highness Shaikh Sulman. The committee give
their services voluntarily. The department has its offices in the Bab al Bahrain building.

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