Vol. 10 · pages 596–600

575 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS representation do not apply to the filling of temporary vacancies of such duration. The post in question will not accordingly be reserved for a Muslim. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : May I know from the Honourable Member if these officers are selected by the Public Service Commission or by the higher officer themselves ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I must have notice of that question. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : May I know from the Honourable Member if appointments arc made by promotion; and in case of promotion are recruitments made on a communal basis or otherwise ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The communal ratio does not apply to promotions. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : Therefore, may I know whether in this case the officers are taken by promotion ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes. 13 * Paucity of Muslims in Calcutta Central Stationery Office, etc. 24. Sir Abdul Halim Ghuznavi: (a) Will the Honourable Member for labour please state how many Superintendents and Head Assistants there are in the employ of the Central Stationery Office, the Calcutta Press and the Central Forms Store located in Calcutta ? What proportion of these appointments are held by Muslims ? (b) What is the total number of Assistants and clerks employed in the Central Stationery Office, the Calcutta Press and the Central Forms Store located in Calcutta separately ? (c) What is the proportion of Muslims in each office and in each cadre ? (d) How many new posts of Assistants have been created in each of the above three offices and how many of them were filled by Muslims ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 11th February 1943, p. 72.

576 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (e) If the number of Muslims in employ is not commensurate with the ratio laid down by the Government circular, why has no attempt been made to rectify things ? (f) Is it a fact that some junior Hindu clerks with minimum educational qualifications and meagre office experience were promoted to the cadre of Assistants in the Central Stationery Office during the year, thereby superseding the claims of senior Muslim clerks ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a), (b), (c) and (d). A statement containing the required information is laid on the table. (e) The Government circular applies to direct recruitment and is being followed. No question of rectification arises. (f) No. As posts of Assistants are filled by selection on merit the question of supersession of senior men does not arise. Statement showing the Number of Assistants and Clerks employed the proportion of Muslims in those categories and the Number of posts of Assistants created owing to war in the Central Stationery Office, the Central Forms Store and the Calcutta Press. (a) Two Superintendents and ten Head Assistants. None of them is a Muslim. (b) and (c). Assistants No. Proportion of Muslims per cent Central Stationery Office … 31 9.7 Central Forms Store … 13 7.7 Calcutta Press … 5 Nil Clerks— Central Stationery Officer … 329 19.1 Central Forms Store 166 21.1 Calcutta Press 49 20.4 (d) Assistants’ post created as a result of the war No. of Muslims Central Stationery Office … 13 of which 11 filled 1 Central Forms Store … 9 (none yet filled) … Calcutta Press … Nil Nil Note.—Figures given against the Central Stationery Office include the number of Assistants and clerks employed in the Stationery Store Branch to which the communal orders were applied from the 18th June, 1942.

577 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 14 * Working Hours of the Central Stationery Office 25. Sir Abdul Halim Ghuznavi: (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state if it is a fact that the working hours of the Central Stationery Office have been extended by thirty minutes ? (b) Is it a fact that a concession of thirty minutes allowed to Muslim employees in the Central Stationery Office during the last Ramzan was disallowed ? If so, why ? (c) Is it a fact that the working hours in certain branches of the Central Stationery Office have been further extended by sixty minutes ? If so, are Government prepared to sanction overtime allowance to the employees of those branches for the extended time ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: (a) Yes. (b) Yes. The concession was previously allowed on the analogy of local Government orders. It was disallowed in 1942 as the Government of Bengal withdrew the concession in view of earlier closing hours. (c) Yes. As a temporary measure for a short period only. To tide over the rush of work in connection with Defence supplies the staff of certain branches was required to remain in office one hour more. It is not customary to pay for such additional overtime to non-industrial staff. 15 @ Announcement re Grant of Inadequate Dearness Allowance to Workers Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : The next one is also in the name of Mr. Jamnadas Mehta. He wishes to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the extreme discontent created among nearly three lakhs of workers in the employment of the Government of India by the action of the latter in * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 11th February 1943, pp. 72-73. @ Ibid., 12th February 1943, p. 169.

578 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES failing to consult their respective Trade Unions, before announcing a very meagre and inadequate grant of Dearness Allowance to the workers concerned. When was this announcement made ? Mr. Jamnadas M. Mehta : On the 23rd January this year. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): After the last Session ? Mr. Jamnadas M. Mehta : Yes, Sir. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): Who is the Member in charge ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Labour Member): I do not think that the failure to consult Trade Unions is a matter of urgent public importance. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): Why ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is not a definite matter, because there has been no obligation placed upon Government by any…… Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): That may be an answer on the merits. This announcement was made on the 23rd January ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : That is so. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : The allegation is that there is considerable dissatisfaction among the workers who number three lakhs. That suggests that it is rather an important public matter. I hold that the motion is in order. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I object to the motion. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : As objection has been taken will those who are in favour of leave for the motion being granted rise in their places ? (More than 25 Members stood up.) As not less than 25 Members are for leave being granted, the motion will be taken up at 4 p.m. or earlier, if the business on the agenda is finished earlier. I take it that that is the desire of the House.

579 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 16 * Desirability of Raising the Standard of Labour Wages 86. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state what is the standard by which the wages of labourers are determined ? (b) In view of the fall in the purchasing power of a rupee from sixteen to six annas, have the Government of India taken any action to enforce proportionate rise in the daily wages of labourers ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The question of wages is generally a matter of contract between the employer and labour. (b) The rise in the cost of living, which amounts to a fall in purchasing power, has not been uniform throughout India. The Government of India has not taken action to enforce increase in wages or to grant any specific dearness allowance for the following reasons— (1) Government has not as yet accepted the policy of fixing a minimum wage by law. That is a matter which needs to be considered before any compulsion is enforced. (2) There are no index numbers throughout India which can be relied upon to measure the actual cost of living and consequently no specific dearness allowance can be prescribed. (3) The rise in the cost of living not being uniform, it is not possible to lay down from the Centre a policy which could be applicable to all Provinces having regard to the diversity of circumstances obtaining in them. The appointment of Labour Commissioners and the provision made for adjudication under the Defence of India Rules in the case of disputes occurring in war time are steps taken by Government to ensure fair conditions of work for labour. Mr. N. M. Joshi : May I ask when Government propose to undertake legislation for fixing up the minimum wages ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 16th February 1943, pp. 267-68.