Vol. 10 · pages 1021–1025

1000 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (b) Detailed statements showing the number of posts sanctioned for the Central and Regional sections of the organisation and the number of posts filled so far are given at Appendix I to the Progress Report of the Directorate-General of Resettlement and Employment for the period 18th July to 31st December 1945 a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. (c) The Employment Exchanges are responsible for the registration and placement of not only demobilised services personnel but also discharged war workers. The total number of persons registered at the Employment Exchange and the Resettlement and Employment offices up to 31st December 1945, was 50,658 out of which 29,925 were Ex-Servicemen. It may be pointed out in this connection that the second phase of demobilisation started only on the 15th November 1945. According to the forecast of Army Release nearly 15,00,000 persons will be demobilised up to the end of March 1947. It is difficult at this stage to estimate as how many out of these persons will require Resettlement and Employment assistance. (d) The total number of persons placed in employment up to 31st December 1945 by Employment Exchanges and Resettlement and Employment offices was 9,516. Out of these 2,841 were Ex-Servicemen. 416 * Contract Works to Muslims and Non-Muslims by Central P.W.D. 1021. Seth Yusuf Abdoola Haroon : Will the Honourable the Labour Member kindly place on the table of the House a comparative statement showing the amount of contract works given by tenders and by work orders, separately, to Muslim and Non-Muslim contractors in the construction Division No. III New Delhi ‘A’ Division, New Delhi ‘B’ Division, Provincial Division and Special Division No. I, of the Central Public Works Department in New Delhi, during the last three years by the present Executive Engineers, or by their predecessors. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 15th March 1946, p. 2472.

1001 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The information asked for is not readily available and the time and labour involved in collecting it would be incommensurate with the value of the result. Seth Yusuf Abdoola Haroon : May I know from the Honourable Member why is he not prepared to reveal this information. I have definite information that the contracts given to Mussalman in this Branch were very low. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : If my Honourable friend has the information, I do not know why he is troubling me. Seth Yusuf Abdoola Haroon : I am troubling the Honourable Member because our cause is being hit and Muslims are being ignored by the Honourable Member’s Department, and I want to reveal that case on the floor of the House. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have nothing to add to the reply I have given. Seth Yusuf Abdoola Haroon : Will the Honourable Member see his way to place this information on the table of the House at a later stage ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I cannot do it. Shri Sri Prakasa : Has the Honourable Member lost his temper ? Mr. President : Order, Order. Next question. 417 * Sale by Government of India of Eastern and Western Houses in New Delhi 1131. Seth Govind Das : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state: (a) Whether Government have noticed the news in the Hindustan Times of the 4th February 1946, that the White Hall was putting pressure on the Government of India to purchase the Western House and the Eastern House on the Curzon Road and Asoka Road, respectively, if so, what reply, if any, has been given by the Government of India, and (b) Whether the Government of India consider that the price * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 21st March 1946, p. 2689.

1002 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES obtained for the material would be only a fraction of the purchase price ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. In this connection I would refer the Honourable Member to my answer to parts (a) and (b) of the Honourable Mr. Venkatasubba Reddiar short notice question No. 23 of the 8th February, 1946. (b) The purchase price has not yet been settled but the price of the materials on the demolition of the building will necessarily be very small as compared with the price of the building. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : In reply to part (a) the Honourable Member said ‘yes’. Does that mean that pressure was brought to bear from Whitehall ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : What does the answer ‘yes’ to part (a) mean ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It means that I have noticed the news in the Hindustan Times. Mr. President : Next question. 418 * Threatened Strike in Government Press, Aligarh 1134. Shri Mohan Lal Saksena : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state if he is aware of a notice of strike given by the employees of the Government Press, Aligarh ? (b) Is it a fact that the employees are being paid Rs. 12, Rs. 14 and Rs. 15 per month ? (c) Is he also aware of their oilier grievances with regard to pay, amenities, working hours and supply of rations ? (d) What action has the Government of India taken or propose to take to meet the demands of the workers ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) Yes, certain categories of employees. (c) Yes. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 21st Match 1946, p. 2691.

1003 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (d) The grievances are receiving attention. Attention of the Honourable Member is invited in this connection to the reply given to the starred question No. 896, on the 12th March, 1946. Prof. N. G. Ranga : With reference to part (b) of this question, how many hundreds of these workers are being paid only 12 or 14 or 15 rupees per month ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am afraid I have not got the facts here. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Is it one of the proposals of the Government to increase the salaries of these people who are so low paid ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : My Honourable friend knows that the Government has appointed a salaries commission which look into this case generally. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : Is the Honourable gentleman aware of the fact that the University of Aligarh pays a minimum salary of Rs. 30 per month to the low paid staff? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I congratulate my Honourable friend on that. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : It is no question of congratulation to me or condolance to you—this is the minimum standard for living—we cannot starve our own employees. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Why is it necessary for the Government to wait until that particular commission reports about the salaries in general of all employees and servants in the Government of India, before they can think of increasing these pitiful salaries of 12 and 14 and 15 rupees per month ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Government’s intention is that they should have a general policy based on some uniform principle, and that policy cannot certainly be brought into execution unless the matter has been examined by a Commission. Seth Govind Das : By what date is the report of this Commission bring in ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am unable to say but Government propose to expedite this matter. Seth Govind Das : By that time these people will be starving. Docs Government think that till then these people should go on getting this 12 or 14 or 15 rupees per month ?

1004 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Government has no such intention. Shri Mohan Lal Saksena : Will Government consider the advisability of giving them some temporary relief until the recommendations are received ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : As I said, the grievances are receiving attention. Shri Mohan Lal Saksena : How long will they take to decide ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The matter is under active consideration. Shri Mohan Lal Saksena : Is it not a fact that press employees have gone on strike in other places ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, that is so but they are working elsewhere, I understand. Shri Mohan Lal Saksena : Will the Honourable Member see that temporary relief is granted before they are forced to resort to a strike ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I cannot give any time limit. Mr. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer : Is it not a fact that the words “under active consideration” usually indicate that there is no time limit, as far as my Honourable friends are concerned ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not think so. 419 * Surface Work for Women Workers in Coal Mines 1138. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) how many of the twenty thousand women workers withdrawn from underground in coal mines have been provided with work on the surface; (b) whether he will enquire how many of the women withdrawn from underground in the State Railway collieries have been fully * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 21st March 1946, p. 2696.