Vol. 10 · pages 711–715

690 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (ii) that coolies and labourers use these passages regularly, and cross the lawns at different places with the result that the lawns in these two squares are disfigured by foot tracks ? (e) Are Government prepared to have these passages closed and grass relaid on these tracks ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b) Yes. (b) No. (c) Yes. (d) Government will examine the suggestion. 124 * Growing of More Vegetables in Orthodox Quarters in New Delhi @150. Sardar Sant Singh : (a) With reference to the general appeal of Government to grow more food and vegetables, will the Honourable Member for Labour please state whether the Government of India staff living in New Delhi at orthodox type of quarters can grow vegetables in large quantities ? (b) Is it a fact that the courtyards of D-type particularly, and of E, C and B-type orthodox quarters generally, are very small in size, and cannot be used to produce any large quantity of vegetables, etc. ? (c) Are Government prepared to allot some extra land outside their quarters to such members of their orthodox staff who may ask for it for the purpose of growing vegetables, etc., and to have such land duly enclosed ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Vegetables may be grown in small quantities for the domestic consumption of the staff occupying these quarters. (b) Yes. (c) No. The proposal if accepted would soon result in destruction of lawns. Fencing is expensive and cannot be provided by Government, and it is unlikely that the staff living in these quarters will be able to make adequate use of such extra land. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1943, 13th November 1943, p. 245. @ Answer to this question laid on the table, the questioner being absent.

691L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 125 * Commissioned Officers in Civil Pioneer Force, United Provinces 29. Mr. Piare Lall Kureel : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state : (a) the total number of commissioned officers (different ranks) so far recruited in the Civil Pioneer Force, United Provinces ; (b) how many of them are Hindus, Muslims and members of the Scheduled Castes; (c) how many of these commissioned officers have been promoted to higher ranks ; (d) if any scheduled caste commissioned officer has so far been promoted to the higher rank ; and (e) if the answer to (d) be in the negative, if Government propose to make such promotion now ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b) Twentyfive officers of commissioned rank have been appointed. The ranks and communities of the officers are— Muslims Scheduled Castes Others Commandants ... ... ... 2 (One Christian). Captains ... ... ... 2 (One Christian). Lieutenants ... ... ... 7 (Two Christians). 2nd Lieutenants ... 4 3 7 (c) Two Commandants and two Captains were appointed in those ranks on first commission. Seven 2nd Lieutenants have been promoted to the posts of Lieutenants. (d) No. (f) Promotion to higher rank can only be made within the authorised establishment of those ranks as vacancies become available. Subject to the authority of the Central Government, the power to make promotions is entrusted to the provincial Government. Except to * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1943, 13th November 1943, pp. 24849. Na 4635—44 a

692 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES prevent positive injustice it is not considered desirable to interfere with the discretion of the Provincial Government in this matter, particularly as regards the higher posts. Promotions are regulated by two considerations (1) Efficiency and (2) Seniority. Since efficiency of the Unit must depend on the efficiency of its officers, efficiency must be the basis of promotion. But in case where efficiency is equal, seniority of service in the Force is also taken into account in making promotions. 126 * Counting of Services of Commissioned Officers in Civil Pioneer Force as War Services 30. Mr. Piare Lull Kureel : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state : (a) whether the services of the commissioned officers in the Civil Pioneer Force will be counted as war services ; if not, why not; and (b) if the answer to (a) above be in the negative, if Government propose to revise their decision ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) Does not arise. 127 * Beveridge Report for Post War Social Security 229. Khan Bahadur Mian Ghulam Kadir Muhammad Shahban : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) whether Government have considered the Beveridge Report for post-war social security ; (b) whether they have any social security plan in view for India after the cessation of hostilites ; (c) whether, if the matter has not yet engaged their attention, they will take it up now with a view to evolving a plan similar to what is known as “Beveridge Plan” for this country ; and *Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1943, 13th November 1943, p. 249. *Ibid., 17th November 1943, pp. 410-11.

693L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (d) on what lines, if any, the Post-War Reconstruction Committee is working ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) It is not for the Government of India to consider the Beveridge Report submitted to the Government in the United Kingdom. The Government of India are, however, aware of the Report. (b) and (c). I would invite the attention of the Honourable Member to the resolution on this subject passed at the last meeting in September, 1943,. of the Tripartite Labour Conference. Copies of the resolution are placed on the table of the house. The Government of India is giving active consideration to the question of implementing the resolution. (d) I would invite the Honourable Member’s attention to the statement laid on the table of the Council of State on the 4th August, 1943, by the Honourable Sir Jwala Prasad Srivastava in reply to question No. 74 by the Honourable Pandit H. N. Kunzru. Resolution passed at the Tripartite Plenary labour Conference held at New Delhi on the 6th and 7th September, 1943. This Tripartite Labour Conference recommends that with a view to provide adequate materials on which to plan a policy of social security for labour the Central Government in co-operation with the Governments of the Provinces of British India, the Indian States and the Chamber of Princes should immediately set up machinery to investigate questions of wages and earnings, employment and housing and social conditions generally, and that as soon as possible after receipt of the required statistics and data the Central Government should appoint a mixed Committee to formulate plans of social security. 128 * Neglect of Lawns in Front of Orthodox Clerks’ Quarters in D.I.Z. Area, New Delhi 232. Sardar Sant Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether it is a fact that the lawns in front of * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1943, 17th November 1943, p. 412.

694 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES orthodox clerks’ quarters in the D.I.Z. area of New Delhi are not properly maintained ? (b) Is it a fact that most of the ground is covered with dried up stunted grass ? (c) Is it a fact that the roads bordering these lawns have almost in all cases lost their alignment, and that some portions of the road are covered with grass, while in other cases the grass has completely disappeared and is covered by bajri and soil ? (d) Is it a fact that there are malis regularly employed by the Horticultural Division to look after these lawns ? (e) Is the Honourable Member aware that these malis water the lawns only once or twice a month and do not pay any attention to anything else ? (f) Are Government prepared to take action to see that these lawns are properly maintained ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No. (b) No. (c) No. (d) Yes. (e) The malis not only water the lawns but also keep them in proper order. (f) The question does not arise, but Government will be prepared to enquire into any bonafide complaints on this subject. Sardar Sant Singh : Has the Honourable Member simply given the reply on the note prepared by the Department or has he taken pains to see the conditions of these quarters to satisfy himself whether the allegations made in the question are correct or not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no reason to suppose that the information supplied to me is not correct. 129 * Operation of the Payment of Wages Act on East Indian Railway 236. Nawab Siddique Ali Khan (on behalf of Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi): Will the Honourable the Labour Member be * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1943, 17th November 1943, p. 414.