Vol. 10 · pages 1001–1005

980 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 395 * Muslim Gazetted Officers in Estate Office 741. Khan Bahadur Makhdum Al-Haj Syed Sher Shah Jeelani: (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member kindly state the existing number of the Gazetted posts in the Estate Office, New Delhi ? (b) How many out of them are being held by Muslims ? (c) Is the Honourable Member aware of the fact that in 1943 it was decided by the Labour Department in consultation with the Home Department that the posts of the Assistant Estate Officers will be filled by promotion from amongst the highly qualified Superintendents of the Central Public Works Department ? If so, does the Honourable Member propose to see that the policy once laid down is adhered to ? (d) Do Government propose to see that the post now vacant which was reserved for a Muslim is under the rules filled by another Muslim in replacement ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Five. (b) None at present. (c) Although prior to the separation of the Estate Office from the Central Public Works Department Organisation, the normal method of recruitment to the post of Assistant Estate Officer in the office of the Chief Engineer was by selection and promotion from among the Superintendents in that office, this position has since changed. The Estate Office now is not a part of Central Public Works Department but is directly under Labour Department. The Superintendents in the Chief Engineer’s Office have therefore no claim now as of right for promotion to the post of Assistant Estate Officer in the Estate Office, but their cases may also be considered on merits when filling any of these posts. (d) The question as to how the post which is now vacant should be filled is still under consideration. Mr. Muhammad Nauman : With reference to Part (b) may I know how these five posts were filled and were there no Muslims who could be considered fit to occupy these posts ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I must have notice of this question. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1946, 6th March 1946, p. 1952.

981 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 396 * Stoppage of Employment of Forced Labour 743. Sri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar: Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) the extent of forced labour in this country, (b) what steps, if any, Government propose to take to stop the employment of forced labour in this country, (c) whether any steps have been taken by Government to fix a minimum standard of wages for agricultural and industrial labourers in several parts of this country, and (d) whether Government is proposing to take any steps either by legislation or otherwise to see that labour is adequately and regularly paid, if so, what, if not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: (a) No detailed information is available. (b) The attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the reply given to Starred Question No. 381 of Professor N. G. Ranga, on 20th February 1946. (c) Proposals for minimum wage legislation for agricultural and industrial labour are under consideration. (d) The proposed minimum wage legislation will provide for fixing minimum wages and for ensuring payment of wages at not less than the rates fixed. 397 @ Muslims for Advance Training in Electrical Engineering 747. Seth Yusuf Abdoola Haroon : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state— (a) the number of Electrical Engineers selected by the Electrical Commissioner on behalf of the Labour Department and deputed * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1946, 6th March 1946, p. 1955. @ Ibid., p. 1957.

982 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES overseas for advance training in the Electrical Engineering last year, (b) the number of Muslims thus selected, (c) if it is a fact that this selection was made without the publicity being given through the Press, if so, why, and (d) if the Muslim quota has not been kept up in the last batch, whether the Honourable Member proposes to give an assurance that a larger number of Muslims will be included in the next selection ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Selected—10, Deputed overseas—9 (b) One. (c) The Provinces and major States were apprised of the scheme for training of Indians abroad and asked to make a preliminary selection of suitable candidates. 24 names were put forward by them of whom 22 appeared for interview and ten selected. There was therefore no necessity to give publicity to the scheme in the Press. (d) The Provinces and Major States recommended only one Muslim for selection and he was selected by Government. As such, the latter portion of this part of the question does not arise. 398 * Appointments to the Post of Administrative Officer, Central P.W.D. 752. Sardar Mangal Singh: Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state— (a) the number of persons who have sucessively held the post of Administrative Officer, Central Public Works Department so far, (b) to which community each one belonged, (c) whether it is a fact that no Sikh or a Hindu has so far been appointed to this post, if so, why, and (d) if he proposes to consider the advisability of appointing a Sikh to the post which is now lying vacant, if not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Four. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1946, 6th March, 1946, p. 1959.

983 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (b) The communities to which the Officers belonged were as follows— (1) Anglo-Indian (2) Muslim. (3) Anglo-Indian (4) Muslim. (c) Yes. The orders regarding communal representation in the public services are not applied singly to the post of Administrative Officer but to all Class I posts in the Central P.W.D. taken together. It is, therefore, not possible to ensure that the post of Administrative Officer is filled by a member of a particular community. (d) The question of filling the post is still under consideration. 399 * Application of Payment of Wages Act to Jodhpur Railway 756. Seth Sukhdev : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state— (a) whether it is a fact that the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act IV of 1936 apply to the portion of the Jodhpur Railway running through British India, if so, why the Conciliation Officer (Railways) and the Supervisor of Railway Labour’s annual reports for three years 1941-44., published in the Indian Labour Gazette, contain no reference to Jodhpur Railway, and (b) if the information in regard to the inspection of the British portion of the Jodhpur Railway is available for these years whether the Honourable Member proposes to lay a statement on the table of the House giving the following information for the Jodhpur Railway— (1) the number of staff (i) adults, (ii) children, (iii) substitutes and (iv) total wages paid to them, (2) the number of employees fined and the amount of fine recovered, * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1946, 6th March, 1946, p. 1961.

984 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (3) the number of employees debited with loss or damage of goods and the amount so recovered, and (4) the number of inspections held and irregularities noted ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The answer to first part of the question is in the affirmative. The note published in the Indian Labour Gazette contains of the Payment of Wages Act on Railways. (b) (1) to (3) A statement containing the available information is placed on the table of the House. (4) The information is not readily available. Statement showing the staff employed by the Jodhpur Railway Administrations in factories and otherwise than in factories in the British Section of the Railway according to the returns submitted in pursuance of the provisions of Rule 17 of the Payment of Wages (Federal Railway) Rules 1938. 1941-42 1942-43 1943-44 Total number of persons employed— Adults … 1901 1933 2024 Children … Nil Nil Nil Total wages paid … Rs. 5,82,379 Rs. 6,35,938 Rs. 6,21,433 Number of employees fined … 128 102 140 Amount of fine recovered … Rs. 41 Rs. 31 Rs. 48 Number of employees debited with loss or damage of goods. 1,102 1,127 1,303 Amount recovered for damage … Rs. 1,287 Rs. 1,129 Rs. 1,985 400 * Disposal of U. S. Army Chapel in New Delhi 764. Sri S. T. Adityan : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether the U. S. Army Chapel, Parliament Street, New Delhi, is going to be surrendered to Government, if so, what Government propose to do with it ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, the matter is now under consideration. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1946, 6th March 1946, p. 1971.