Vol. 10 · pages 1051–1055

1030 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Prof. N. G. Ranga : Is it not a fact that they have been favouring him in preference to so many other contractors ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Not at all, Sir. 439 * Supply of Essentials and Other Facilities to Workers in Mica Mines at Hazaribagh 1409. Sjt. Seth Damodar Swroop : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) if Government are aware that there is no proper arrangement of water for the workers in the Mica mines at Hazaribagh and that no medical aid is available for them in spite of the fact that the area is a well-known epidemic place; (b) if Government are aware that though the cost of living has increased from six to nine times, no dearness or any such allowance is being paid to the workers and that there is no proper arrangement for sale of rice and other foodgrains at control price at a time when foodgrains have almost disappeared from the market; and (c) whether Government are aware that the Sub-Divisional Officer of the place has ordered the sale of rice at the rate of two seers and four chataks per rupee while the control price is three seers and eight chataks per rupee ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Water supply arrangements are not satisfactory and the medical aid now given is not adequate and there is scope for improvement which the Government of India hope to undertake shortly by means of Legislation. (b) So far as Government is aware, in some cases wages have been increased to include the dearness allowance while some important concerns are paying dearness allowance in addition to wages. Proper arrangement for sale of rice and other foodgrains at controlled price is a matter for the Provincial Government, and I would suggest the Honourable Member takes up the matter with the Provincial Government. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3157.

1031 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (c) Here again the matter is for local authorities, and Provincial Government. 440 * Grievances of Workers in Mica Mines at Hazaribagh 1410. Sjt. Seth Damodar Swroop: Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether Government are aware that the money paid by the Joint Mica Mission was never distributed amongst the workers in the Mica Mines at Hazaribagh ? (b) Are Government aware that the factory rules and regulations are mostly disregarded by the Mica Mines Companies and that the highly objectionable and illegal practice of deducting one anna per rupee from the workers’ wages in the name of Dastoori is openly prevalent there ? (c) Are Government aware that because of the grievances referred to above the Mica Mazdoor Sangh has been forced to give a clear notice of strike ; if so, what steps Government are intending to take to satisfy the workers’ demands and avert the danger of a strike ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) It is not clear what the Honourable Member is referring to. If the reference is to the additional cost allowance on the price which the Joint Mica Mission was paying to the suppliers; I may inform the Honourable Member that the distribution of the allowance was purely a matter between the employers and the workers. (b) The Factories Act and the Payment of Wages Act do not apply to Mica Factories. The prevalence of the illegal practice referred to by the Honourable Member has been brought to Government’s notice. The practice will, I think disappear if the Government’s proposal to bring mica under Central Control materialises and the Mica Enquiry Committee’s recommendations in this respect are implemented. (c) Yes. The matter is under investigation. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3157.

1032 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 441 * Ban on Giving Works to Contractors Related to Employers of Central P.W.D. 1411. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the circumstances which led to the issue of the Labour Department Circular Memo No. M.S. 21, dated the 14th November, 1944, prohibiting the award of works to contractors whose relation are working in officers, etc., under the Central Public Works Department ? (b) Is he aware that this circular has caused great discontent and hardship to many highly reputed and old-established contractors ? (c) Do similar orders exist in any other Department of Government ? If so, will he place a copy of such orders on the table of the House ? (d) Was Legal Department of the Government of India consulted before the Labour Department issued these orders ? If so, what was their opinion ? (e) Cannot the purpose of the orders be served if a relation of a contractor who happens to work in the same Division is transferred to some other Division or other station ? If not, how ? (f) Will he please consider the advisability of cancelling these orders ? If not, what are the reasons ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a), (b), (c), (e) and (f) The Honourable Member’s attention is invited to the reply given to starred question No. 1143, on 21st March, 1946; (d) No. It is purely an administrative matter. 442 @ Revision of Allotment Rules of Government Accommodation 1412. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state when the present allotment rules regarding * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3158. @ Ibid.

1033 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS allotment of residences in New Delhi during the war are to be revised so as to provide for change of residences within the same class or group as was permissible under the former allotment rules, since the war is now over? (b) Is he aware that some of the allotees who have not been fortunate to get quarters according to their choice are, much to their dissatisfaction, forced to continue in their present quarters ? (c) Is he also aware of the fact that under the existing rules, senior officers moving down from Simla have been at a disadvantage as compared with the junior officers stationed here in securing allotment of quarters ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The question of the desirability of the revision of the present allotment rules will be taken up shortly, when the question of making provision in the rules for change of residences will also be examined. (b) That is a matter of opinion. (c) Yes, in a few cases senior officers have been at a disadvantage but that is no sufficient reason for disturbing a large number of officers who are already in occupation of these quarters. 443 * Loss of Revenue due to Allotment of Lower Class Accommodation to Higher Paid Servants 1413. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the number of officers residing in lower type of clerks quarters in New Delhi but who are entitled to the allotment of (i) bungalows reserved for officers drawing Rs. 600 per mensem or more, (ii) ‘A’ and (iii) ‘B’ class quarters intended for officers drawing less than Rs. 600 per mensem ? (b) Is he aware of the fact that Government are losing a good amount in the shape of rent by not providing these officers with the class of accommodation to which they are eligible or even lower than that ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3159.

1034 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (c) What steps does he propose to take to avoid this loss of Government revenue, and are there any proposals to build more quarters of the higher class ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) (i) 98, (ii) 57, (iii) 138. (b) Government are not losing. Officers occupying lower type of quarters are paying the maximum rent and no quarters are lying vacant. (c) Part I—Does not arise. Part II.—The matter is under consideration as part of the general proposal, for the provision of more residential accommodation for officers. 444 * Supply of Unfiltered Water in Quarters in D.I.Z. and Minto Road Area in New Delhi 1415. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether there has been any proposal for the installation of pipes for the supply of unfiltered water in the courtyards of the Orthodox quarters in the D.I.Z. and Minto Road areas in New Delhi ? (b) Is he aware of the fact that gallons of filtered water are being wasted every day in every quarters in the washing of floor, W.C., watering of flowers, plants or vegetables and in the sprinkling of water on the khus ki tatties during the hot weather? (c) In view of the approaching hot weather will he please consider advisability of installing, the unfiltered water supply in the quarters, in the wider interest of service and economy ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) No. A bend and a gland cock are provided on the hydrants of unfiltered water at convenient places near these quarters at the beginning of every summer season to enable the occupants to draw unfiltered water and I do not think that the consumption of filtered water for these purposes during the remaining part of the year is excessive. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3159.