Vol. 10 · pages 1061–1065

1040 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 450 * Desirability of Extending Concessions Enjoyed by Staff of Viceregal Estates, Simla, to Staff of Simla Central Division of Central P.W.D. 165. Sardar Mangal Singh : With reference to the reply to part (b) of unstarred question No. 136, answered on the 9th April, 1945, regarding the desirability of extending to the ministerial and inferior staff of the Simla Central Division, the same concessions as are enjoyed by such staff of the Viceregal Estates, Simla, will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether any decision has so far been arrived at ? If so, will he please place a copy of the orders issued on the subject on the table of the House ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : A copy of the orders embodying the final decision arrived at in the case is laid on the table. Copy of letter No. E-6, dated the 6th December 1945 from the Assistant Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Labour, New Delhi, to the Additional Chief Engineer, Central Public Works Department, Western Zone, New Delhi. Subject.—Grant of compensatory allowances to the staff of the Simla Central Division and of the Rent Control Office of the Central Public Works Department at Simla. Reference your letter No. 01171-E, dated 7th June, 1944. The Governor-General in Council sanctions the grant of Compensatory allowances to the non-gazetted staff of the Simla Central Division and of the Rent Control Office of the Central Public Works Department at Simla at the rates shown below :— (a) Non-gazetted Ministerial and Technical staff, other than inferior servants—15 per cent of pay subject to a minimum of Rs. 15 (fifteen) and maximum of Rs. 35 (thirty-five) per mensem. (b) Inferior Staff—Rs. 2 (two) per mensem fixed. 2. These orders will have retrospective effect from the 1st July, 1945. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946. p. 3165.

1041 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 451 *Damodar Valley Development Scheme 1503. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state: (a) the present stage of the Damodar Valley Development Scheme; (b) if the preliminary survey is complete; (c) the total amount of cultivated land acquired and to be acquired in all the districts concerned ; (d) the number of villages in all the districts to be affected; (e) the number of people (i) who will be deprived of their homes ; (ii) who will be deprived of their lands, and (iii) who will be deprived of both their homes and lands ; (f) if there is any scheme for the rehabilitation of the people to be ejected; (g) if he is aware of the feelings of the people of all the localities to be affected and also of the resolution of the Bihar Provincial Congress Working Committee on the scheme; and (h) if he has considered the desirability or otherwise of postponing the working of the scheme till popular Governments begin functioning in Provinces and at the Centre ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : (a) A premilinary investigation is in progress. (b) No. (c), (d) and (e). Detailed information on these points is now being collected. (f) No scheme has yet been finally drawn up but the matter is under the active consideration of Government and I can asure the Honourable Member that Government will keep prominently in mind the necessity of adequate rehabilitation of those dispossessed. (g) Government have seen some press communications on this subject. (h) Only preliminary investigations are now carried out and Government do not consider it desirable to postpone them or such action as may appear necessary on a consideration of them. *Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1946, 3rd April 1946, p. 3422.

1042 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Babu Ram Narayan Singh : What will be the process of the rehabilitation of the people ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : I am unable to make any definite statement. Prof. N.G. Ranga : Will not the Honourable Member keep in mind the necessity of all those people, especially the peasants who will be ejected, for the grant of alternate pieces of land, where they can carry on their agriculture ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : I certainly have that in mind. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : May I know whether two or three years’ notice will be given to these people who will have to leave their homes in the acquired area, so that they may build their houses in the new places and occupy them when they have to vacate their original homes ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : I cannot commit myself to any particular period, but I am prepared to say that we shall certainly give long enough notice. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : May I know, Sir, whether as a part of this Damodar Valley development scheme some big embankments are to be constructed on rivers in Santal Parganas District ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : I am unable to say that at this stage. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan : Arising out of part (c) of the question may I know whether it is a fact that many villagers have been turned out of their homes in Assam, their houses have been demolished, they have been put to great inconvenience and their lands also have been taken away ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : I do not see how this arises out of this question. Mr. President : He says in connection with the scheme. The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : That does not affect Assam at all. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : May I know whether this scheme has been finally decided upon ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : Yes, Sir. Prof. N.G. Ranga : Is it not a multi-purpose scheme ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : Yes, Sir.

1043 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 452 *Strike in Indian School of Mine, Dhanbad 1504. Babu Ram Narayan Singh : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether there is a strike in the Indian School of Mine at Dhanbad ? If so, why, and has the strike come to an end ? If so, how ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : The Honourable Member’s attention is invited to the reply given to Starred Question No. 1265, on 26th March, 1946. Prof. N.G. Ranga : Have the Government come to any conclusion regarding the recognition of the diplomas about which they were complaining ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : The matter is under consideration. 453 @ Number of Indians Employed in International Labour Office 1511. Prof. N.G. Ranga : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) the number of Indians employed by the I.L.O. at its headquarters; (b) the total amount spent by the I..L.O. on Indian members of the I.L.O. offices and that contributed by the Government of India to the I.L.O. (c) whether there are any proposals to strengthen the I.L.O. office in India and to open its Branches in all the provincial capitals to keep the I.L.O. in touch with Provincial Governments; (d) whether Government are doing any thing to increase India’s representation at the I.L.O. headquarters, and if so, with what results; and (e) whether Government propose to send some members of their secretariat to the I.L.O. headquarters for a few months in order to enable them to study the Labour Legislation and its working countries and be in touch with the I.L.O. work ? *Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1946, 3rd April 1946, p. 3429. @ Ibid., p. 3429.

1044 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : (a) It is understood that three Indians are employed at the International Labour Office headquarters. In the Indian Branch of the International Labour Office the personnel of which is wholly Indian, there is a Senior Officer with a sanctioned strength of seven members for 1946. (b) The expenditure by the International Labour Organisation on Indian members in their various office for 1946 is as follows : Headquarters ... ... 60,000 Swiss Francs or Rs. 45,900 approximately Indian Branches ... ... Rs. 44,640 India does not directly contribute to the I.L.O. funds but a portion of the contribution paid by India to the League of Nations is given to the I.L.O. The table below gives the details : YEAR Total Contribution to Leage of Nations (gold francs) Portion allotted to the International Labour Office (gold francs) 1943 ... 893,044,24 300,731,88 1944 ... 815,024,64 300,960,18 1945 ... 1,99,033,39 895,200 (Swiss Francs) 1946 ... 1,302,938,67 Not known Information obtained from Director, International Labour Office Indian Branch. N.B.—Exchange rates :— Rs. As. Ps. 1 gold franc ... 1 1 5 approximately. 1 Swiss franc ... 0 12 4 (c) Government have no information. (d) The answer is in the affirmative. (i) A few suitable candidates arc being selected by Federal Public Service Commission (India) for appointment to the International Labour Office ministerial staff at Montreal. (ii In the higher posts the question of the appointment of an Indian as an Assistant Director is under consideration.