Vol. 10 · pages 1066–1070

1045 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (c) The question is under consideration. Shri Mohan Lal Saksena : What is the rupee value of a gold franc ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : It is Rs. 1-1-5. This information has been given to us by the International Labour Office but I cannot vouch for it. Prof. N.G. Ranga : With regard to part (c), will Government consider the advisability of suggesting to the I.L.O. to open its branches in all the Provincial Capitals to keep the I.L.O. in touch with Provincial Governments ? The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : I will look into the matter. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Is it not a fact that the Asiatic countries and also the coloured countries are not given adequate representation on the governing body of the I.L.O. ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : That is the general impression but I cannot exactly say what the situation is. Prof. N. G. Ranga : What steps do Government propose to take to sec that India as wcl! as the other coloured peoples arc given adequate representation on the governing body of the I.L.O. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : We are always pressing the claim of India. . Prof. N. G. Ranga : With what result? Has there been any improvement at all ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : We hope some day we will be successful. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Is it not a fact that our position on the governing body is weaker man it used to be three years ago ? The Honourable Dewan Bahadur Sir A. Ramaswami Mudaliar : May I answer this question ? My recollection is that both on the Government side and on the labour side there has been representation for a number of years. Our late colleague in this House, Mr. Joshi, was a member of the governing body for well over 10 or 12 years. Sir Atul Chatterjee was a member of the governing body on behalf of the Government and Chairman of the governing body on one occasion. The present High Commissioner, Sir Samuel Ranganathan is a member of the Governing body and was Chairman of the constitution making body of the governing body at the last International Labour Conference. At present, I believe, after Mr. Joshi ceased to

1046 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES be a member of the governing body during the last one year, there is no representative of the employees from India on the governing body. That is the only degeneration of the position, if it can be called a degeneration. So far as the Government is concerned, the High Commissioner is a member of the governing body. I cannot say anything about other coloured peoples but certainly India has been throughout a member of the governing body both from the Government side and from the employees side. Sjt. N. V. Gadgil : Is it not a fact that certain changes have been recommended in the constitution of the governing body and they have been laid on the table of the House ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : That is a matter which will come up for discussion in connection with a Resolution I propose to move. Diwan Chaman Lall : When is the Honourable Member moving it? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : In the course of this Session. Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar : Now that there is a proposal to abolish the League of Nations, is there a proposal to have direct contribution to the I.L.O. from the Indian exchequer ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I cannot say. That will be a matter for the I.L.O. to decide. 454 * Strikes in Central and Provincial Government Presses 1526. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) for how long the strike in the Government of India Press at New Delhi has been going on; (b) the grievances and demands of the workers which were brought to the notice of Government. (c) when these demands were brought before Government and what action was taken thereon to satisfy the legitimate needs of the workers ; * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1946, 3rd April 1946, p. 3443.

1047 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (d) how many workers are now involved in the strike; (e) whether it is a fact that this strike has spread to or similar strikes are in progress in, other Presses of the Central or Provincial Governments; (f) whether it is a fact that such a strike is in progress in Bombay, vide page 4 of the Hindustan Times, of the 21st March, and (g) what steps are being taken by Government to come to a settlement with the workers ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The strike lasted for 19 days from the 6th March to 24th March, 1946. (b) The demands were : (1) Fixation of a fair living wage at a rate not lower than Rs. 50 p.m. (2) Revision of existing scales of pay on an equal footing in all the Government of India Presses. (3) Revision of the Contributory Fund Rules so as to bring them into line with State Railways Provident Fund and grant of gratuity on retirement or death. (4) Increase in dearness and war allowances. (5) Revision of leave Rules. (6) Reduction in working hours from 48 to 40 a week. (7) Allowance to the men working in the night shift. (8) Increase in the class rates of pieceworkers. (9) Casual leave and holidays with pay to pieceworkers. (10) Retention of temporary workers. (c) and (g) The demands were brought to Government’s notice in February last. The last five demands have since been conceded in part and the concessions announced. The first five demands, being of a general nature affecting all classes of Central Government servants, cannot be granted without due consideration and will have to wait the recommendations of the Pay Commission in regard to salaried hands. Government have also granted the following additional concessions to all pressworkers. (i) The increased rates of dearness and war allowances would be given retrospective effect from the 1st July, 1944 instead of from 1st January, 1946 to all those now drawing them. (ii) Half the dearness allowance will count as pay for the purpose of calculating the amount of pension of all workers in receipt of such allowance.

1048 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (iii) Those classed as inferior will draw pension up to the limit of half average pay. Government also propose to appoint an Officer on special duty to report on the anomalies existing in the pay and conditions of service of the various categories of pressworkers in the different Government of India Presses, (d) 775 industrial workers were involved. (e) Yes, to the Government of India Forms Press, Aligarh, the employees of which are on strike from the 15th March, 1946. The industrial workers of the Government of India Press, Calcutta and Forms Press, Calcutta, also gave notice of a strike but it has not yet been resorted to. (f) Government have no information other than what has appeared in the Press. The Press in question is under the Provincial Government. 455 * Requisitioning of Residential Property in New Delhi 1530. Diwan Chaman Lall : (a) In view of the War Department’s declared intention to proceed as fast as possible with the de-requisitioning of private residential properly as stated in this House in the reply to starred question No. 924 en the 13lh March, 1946, will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether the Labour Department intend to refrain likewise from requisitioning any more private residential property in New Delhi for accommodating the officers of the Central Government ? (b) Do Government still intend to take possession in New Delhi of any residential property (for example No. 4, Ratendone Road) which was previously requisitioned by Government but which was not actually taken over by them? What are the reasons, if any, why it is still considered necessary to obtain possession of such requisitioned property ? (c) In view of the general de-requisitioning programme, have Government considered the advisability of allowing the existing tenants of the residential accommodation referred to in part (b) above to * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central) Vol. V of 1946 3rd April 1046 p. 3445.

1049 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS continue in occupation thereof? If so, do Government propose to issue early orders accordingly ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Since the cessation of hostilities with Japan, Labour Department have given up requisitioning fresh residential property for accommodating officers of the Central Government. (b) It is not possible to lay down any general rule. Where Government have permitted one of their servants to occupy a bungalow already requisitioned for the pool, Government must have the right to use the bungalow for the pool. No. 4, Ratendone Road is a case of this type. This is necessary to secure the best utilization of accommodation in the pool for Government purposes. (c) Each case will have to be decided on its merits from the point of view of the best utilization of accommodation in the pool. 456 * Mica Mines Labour Welfare Fund Bill The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Labour Member) : Sir, I beg for leave to introduce a Bill to constitute a fund for the financing of activities to promote the welfare of labour employed in the mica mining industry. Mr. President : The question is : “That leave be granted to introduce a Bill to constitute a fund for the financing of activities to promote the welfare of labour employed in the mica mining industry.” The motion was adopted. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, I introduce the Bill. 457 @ Factories (Amendment) Bill The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Labour Member) : Sir, I move : “ That the Bill further to amend the Factories Act, 1934, as reported by the Select Committee, be taken into consideration.” *Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1946, 3rd April 1946, p. 3457. @ Ibid. p. 3457.