Vol. 10 · pages 686–690

665L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS and factory hours the requirements of those areas during the summer could be adequately met if Standard Time were fixed at 5½ hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time throughout India and a unform time was introduced accordingly as from the 15th May. The Government of India undertook, however, to consider the question of a further change before the winter season commenced. It has now been decided that to insure the continuance of sufficient daylight in the eastern Provinces it is necessary to make such a change in the near future, and that Indian Standard Time throughout the country should be 6½ hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. The change will take effect from midnight or the 31st August—1st September from which date clocks will be advanced by one hour. It is fully realised that the advance of clocks by one hour must inevitably cause some inconvenience to areas lying west of meridian 82½ but it is believed that by an adjustment of hours of work, this inconvenience can be overcome and that when the public becomes accustomed to the new time no great difficulty will be experienced. 96 * Fall in Output of Coal 28. Mr. K. C. Neogy : (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state if it is a fact that since January, 1943, the output of coal in British India has gone down ? If so, did Government make any enquiry about the reason for this fall in output, and what practical steps do Government propose to take to improve the situation ? (b) Is it a fact that the stock of coal was much less at collieries in British India on the 31st of May, 1943, than the stock that was reported to exist on the 31st of December, 1942 ? If so, what are the reasons for such a deterioration ? (c) Is it a fact that sufficient number of wagons was not available between the 1st January, 1943, and 31st of May, 1943, even to carry away the raisings of that particular period? If so, what is the explanation for the reduction in the stock ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1943, 2nd August 1943, p. 286.

666 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (d) Is it a fact that about 30 collieries in the Kajora field in the Province of Bengal with a raising of approximately over ten lakhs of tons a year, are going to be shut down for want of wagon facilities due to the military authorities using the portion of the line serving these collieries, although it is possible to carry the military goods from the Ondal Junction by the military lorries ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No. The second part of the question does not arise. (b) The stock figures reported to exist on the 31st December, 1942, are not reliable. Improved methods of collecting figures of stocks have since been introduced. It is believed that stocks have not deteriorated but increased between 31st December, 1942, and 31st May, 1943. (c) Answer to the first part is in the affirmative. Answer to the second part is in the negative. (d) No. Kajora field is worked by several pilots. It is presumed that the question refers particularly to the area worked by Okhra Nos. 1 and 2 Pilots. Approximately 30 collieries are worked by these two Pilots. The capacity for coal of these two Pilots is 100 wagons which represents approximately 2,000 tons of coal per day or 7,20,000 tons per annum. Both these Pilots have been getting preferential suplies of wagons as they have large orders from B and A Railway. With the wagon position as at present prevailing in the Bengal and Bihar fields, it is extremely unlikely that even if the capacities of these Pilots were increased the collieries would get more than 100 wagons a day. For the Military Depot 20 wagons in the capacity of Okhra No. 2 Pilots have been provided, but as explained above this arrangement is not likely to cause these collieries to shut down. The Government of India are not aware whether the military can carry goods from Ondal Junction by military lorries. 97 * Concessions re Oil Resources in British India to British or American Firms 30. Mr. K. C. Neogy : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to refer to starred question No. 441, dated the 30th March, 1943, and lay on the table a statement giving the names of British or * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1943, 2nd August 1943, p. 287.

667L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS American firms that may have secured concessions (including exploration or prospecting licences) in respect of the potential oil sources in any part of British India, together with a summary of the principal terms and conditions thereof in each case ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The attention of the Honourable Member is invited to the statement placed on the table of the House today giving the information promised in answer to the supplementaries on question No. 441, dated the 30th March, 1943. 98 * Summary of Proceedings of the Third Meeting of the Standing Labour Committee The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Labour Member): Sir, I lay on the table a copy@ of the Summary of Proceedings of the third meeting of the Standing Labour Committee held on the 7th and 8th May, 1943. 99 † Sikhs in High Salaried Posts in the Central Public Works Department 209. Sardar Sant Singh : Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state the number of posts carrying salaries of Rs. 400 per mensem or over in the Central Public Works Department and in Sections other than the Central Public Works Department ? How many of these posts are held by Sikhs ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : There are 60 posts on salaries rising to Rs. 400 or more and 82 posts on salaries of Rs. 400 and upwards. Of the total of 142 posts, 6 are held by Sikhs. It is not understood to which office the Member refers by the words ‘Sections other than the Central Public Works Department. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1943, 2nd August 1943, p. 292. @ Not included in these Debates, but a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.—Ed. of D. † Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1943, 5th August 1943, p. 426.

668 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 100 * Establishment Branch of the Office of the Chief Engineer, Central Public Works Department †210. Sardar Sant Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member kindly state if it is a fact that a separate Branch to deal with establishment matters and to facilitate the work of selection board in the office or the Chief Engineer, Central Public Works Department, was set up recently ? (b) What is the total number of staff working in this Branch, and how many of them are Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs ? (c) Is it a fact that none of the members of the staff including the Superintendent has any experience of establishment matters ? (d) Why were not experienced people already working in the Establishment Branch considered suitable for employment in this Branch ? (e) Is it a fact that establishment matters of the Muslim personnel are dealt with quickly while those of other communities lie unattended to for an indefinite period ? (f) Do Government propose to investigate an enquiry into the communal work done by this Branch ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) Total No. of staff 12 Hindus ... ... 5 Muslims ... ... 6 Sikhs ... ... Nil Indian Christians ... ... 1 (c) No; two assistants and three clerks were taken from the Establishment Branches. (d) More staff could not be removed from the Establishment Branches without detriment to the work there. (e) No. (f) No. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1943, 5th August 1943, p. 426. †Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner having exhausted his quota.

669L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 101 * Representations Against the Appointment of One Bakshi Madan Singh in the Central Public Works Department @211. Sardar Sant Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state if it is a fact that one Bakshi Madan Singh was appointed as an Assistant in the Works Section, Central Public Works Department, against a vacancy reserved for ‘other minorities’ ? (b) Was he asked at the lime of recruitment to produce a certificate as to the bonafides of his being a Sikh in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Home Department ? If not, why not ? (c) Are Government aware that Bakshi Madan Singh has been “Petit” 3 or 4 times before he joined service, and that he kept hair to deceive the Government to get a job reserved for the Sikh Community ? (d) Is it a fact that a number of representations were made to the Additional Chief Engineer and the administrative Officer by the local Sikh organisations and none of these has even been acknowledged so far? (e) Do Government propose to replace this person by a bonafide Sikh? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) No. The Department had no doubts as to his bonafide at the time of his appointment. (c) No. Government had no information to this effect. (d) Yes. They are being acknowledged. (e) Only, if it is established that he embraced Sikhism within a year of his application for employment, or being a Keshdhari had become patit before his employment. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. III of 1943, 2nd August 1943, pp. 426-27. @ Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner having exhausted his quota.