Vol. 10 · pages 646–650

625 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (c) Is it not a fact that officials show partiality and favour to some in the allotment of work in such a way that there is a very unequal distribution of wages and the wages of a large number of piece workers amount to very little and do not suffice for their requirements and the maintenance of their families ? (d) Do Government propose to consider the advisability of giving equal work to all, so that at the end of the month all should have a nearly equal amount of pay and thus redress their grievances ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) The answer to the first pail is in the negative. The second part does not arise. (c) No. (d) This is actually done but equal work does not ensure equal earning. The attention of the Honourable Member is invited to the reply to part (c) of starred question No. 85 given in this House on 17th February 1941. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : May I know whether the Honourable Member has made an enquiry into the allegation that the actual distribution of the work at present does not give equal wages to the persons employed ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The answer is based on enquiry. 57 * Annual Election for the Works Committee of the Government of India Press, New Delhi 341. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state if it is a fact that the annual election for the Works Committee of the Government of India Press, New Delhi, which is held on 8lh April, is not properly conducted ? (b) Is it or is it not a fact that the voters are not called one by one but all the voters gather together and stand in the room where the voles are received ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1993, 20th March 1943, pp 1270-71.

626 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (c) Are Government prepared to make proper arrangements for keeping the voters away from the clerk concerned, and to allow only those to come forward who are called to give their votes ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b) No. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi: Did the Honourable Member make an enquiry as to the complaints that were made to the polling officer at the time the votes were taken and satisfy himself that there were complaints of the kind that I have made in the question ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No. I will make enquiries if the necessity arises. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi: Now that I have put the question, will the Honourable Member be pleased to make an enquiry whether it is a fact that the complaints that are made are correct ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes. 58 * Fall in Coal Output of Bengal and Bihar Coal Fields 349. Mr. K. C. Neogy : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state if it is a fact that the output of coal in the Bengal and Bihar coal fields in the year 1942 was considerably less than that of the previous years ? If so, what were the percentages separately of the decrease as compared to the output for the years 1939, 1940 and 1941 ? What are the factors responsible for this reduction in output ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No. The output of coal in the Bengal and Bihar coalfields for 1942 was very considerably above that for 1939. The peak year to date has been 1940. There was a very slight drop in 1941 on the 1940 figures and a further slight drop in 1942. The total drop on the 1940 figures is less than one per cent. As the drop in production is so slight no detailed enquiry has been held into its cause. Mr. K. C. Neogy: Has any representation been made to the Government of India by the trade interests on this particular point, mentioning any grievance due to which this drop might have occurred ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information as yet. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1943, 20th March 1943, p. 1276.

627 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 59 * Criterion for Enlistment of Contractors in Central Public Works Department 417. Mr. Ananga Mohan Dam : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the criterion for the enlistment of contractors in the Central Public Works Department ? Is this enlistment subject to any fee ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Enlistment of contractors in the Central Public Works Department is made with due regard to their financial status and their experience as evidenced by the extent and quality of the works previously executed by them. In the case of firms, registration under Indian Partnership Act, 1932, is also insisted upon as an essential condition. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative. 60 @ Muslims in the Offices and the Subordinate Engineering Services of the Central Public Works Department 418. Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state : (a) the total strength of the class I and Class II Officers and the Subordinate Engineering Services of the Central Public Works Department. (b) the strength of Muslims in each of the categories given in part (a); and (c) what steps have been taken so far to make up the deficiency, if any ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Class 1—122. Class 11—63. Subordinate Engineering Service—1179. (b) Class 1—14. Class II—4. Subordinate Engineering Service—202. (c) Attention of the Honourable Member is invited to the answer given to part (b) of the starred question No. 319 on the 16th March 1943. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1943, 30th March 1943, p. 1582. @ Ibid. p. 1582.

628 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 61 * Proposed Retrenchment Scheme for Engineering Establishment of the Central Public Works Department 419. Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state if a retrenchment scheme for the Engineering Establishment of the Central Public Works Department is under contemplation ? If so, will Muslim employees be affected by it even if their strength is short of 25 per cent of the total strength ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Not at present. The second part of the question docs not arise. 62 @ Muslim Lino Operators, Mono Operators, etc., in the Government of India Press, Calcutta 420. Hajee Chowdhury Muhammad Ismail Khan : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the number of Lino Operators, Mono operators, Mono Casters and forme carriers in the Government of India, Press, Calcutta, and how many of them are Muslims ? (b) What is the total number of appointments made in these grades during the last three years, and how-many Muslims were appointed in each of these grades ? (c) What steps have been taken to appoint Muslims in these posts ? (d) Does the Honourable Member propose to place on the table of the House a detailed statement showing the figures, communitywise, in regard to posts of clerks and copy-holders in permanent and temporary employ in the Government of India Press, Calcutta ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a), (b) and (d). A statement is laid on the table. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1943, 30th March 1943, p. 1582. @ Ibid., p. 1582.

629 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (c) Orders regarding communal representation in the services are being followed in the Government of India Presses. Statement Post (Permanent) Number No. of Muslims Lino Operators ... 6 2 Mono Operators ... 6 1 Mono Casters ... 10 Forme Carriers : Permanent ... 12 Nil Temporary ... 10 Nil Statement showing the total number of appointments made in the posts of Lino Operators, Mono Operators, Mono Casters and Forme Carriers in the Government of India Press, Calcutta, in 1940, 1941 and 1942. Post (Permanent) Appointment in 1940 1941 1942 Lino Operators Nil Nil Nil Mono Operators Nil Nil Nil Mono Casters Nil 1 (Hindu) Nil Forme Carriers (Permanent & Temporary) Nil Nil Nil Statement Showing Communal composition of clerks and copy-holders (Permanent and temporary) in the Government of India Press, Calcutta. Total Number Hindus Muslim Anglo Indian Indian Chris- tian Other than Scheduled Caste Sche- duled Caste Clerk (excluding computers, Time Keepers etc.) : Permanent 43 31 1 10 1 Nil Temporary 7 5 Nil 1 Nil 1 Copy-holders : Permanent 34 23 Nil 5 2 Nil Temporary 4 3 Nil 1 Nil Nil (Regular) Temporary 5 2 Nil 2 Nil 1 (for limited period)