Vol. 15 · pages 1066–1070

1047PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES Shri Sonawane : Will elections in a particular State be over a day, or will they be spread out over several days ? Dr. Ambedkar: It depends upon the available administrative machinery. If the State has got sufficient machinery to complete all the elections in a single day, certainly the State will do it. Otherwise Government is quite prepared to spread the elections over a certain period in order to enable them to cope with the difficulties. Shri Kamath: Arising out of answers to parts (a) and (b) of the question, have Regional Commissioners been appointed in the other parts of India and have the State Government been asked to assist the Regional Commissioners in ‘ going ahead’ with arrangements for polling and other cognate matters ? Dr. Ambedkar : The question of appointment of Regional Commissioners is under consideration. It is expected there will be Regional Commissioners. Shri Kamath: Have the final electoral rolls been published ? Dr. Ambedkar: I cannot give an off-hand answer. Certainly they will be printed in due course. Shri Dwivedi: In view of the fact that Ministers of States and Home Affairs have accepted the principle that certain Part C States will have legislatures. I want to know whether the elections for the legislatures in Part C States will be held simultaneously with the General Elections. Dr. Ambedkar : I cannot say what the provisions of the Bill are. Shrimati Ammu Swaminadhan : May I ask the Hon. Minister what are the dates which are fixed for polling in Rajasthan ? Dr. Ambedkar: I cannot give an answer to that. Shri Kamath: By what date will the rules under the Electoral Bill be finalised and notified ? Mr. Deputy Speaker: Next question. Dr. Ambedkar: It is expected that they would be finalised by the end of this month.

1048 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Mr. Deputy Speaker: I am afraid hon. Members go on putting questions and Hon. Ministers go on giving answers. I have called the next question; the Hon. Minister need not have answered. Shri Kamath: I did not hear you, Sir. (39) *SYMBOLS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES 115. Shri S. N. Das: Will the Minister of Law be pleased to state: (a) The names of political parties which were invited by the Election Commission to consider allotment of symbols to different parties in the coming General Elections; (b) On what basis these parties were invited; (c) Before inviting these parties whether any effort was made to as certaina as to which of the political parties were going to contest the elections ; and (d) Whether any decision has been taken regarding allotment of symbols ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): (a) (1) Indian National Congress. (2) All Indian Forward Block (Ruikar Group). (3) All India Forward Block (Marxist Group Party of Workers and Peasants of India). (4) Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha. (5) Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party. (6) Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad. (7) Socialist Party. (8) All India Scheduled Castes’ Federation. (b) and (c) Such of the parties as, in the opinion of the Election Commission, actually function in all the States or * P. D., Vol. 9, Part I, 9th August 1951, p. 133.

1049PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES most of the States and are expected to set up candidates therein, were invited to the conference. (d) Symbols have been allotted by the Election Commission as follows : (1) All-India Forward Block (Marxist Group)—Standing Lion. (2) All-India Forward Block (Ruikar Group)—Human Hand. (3) Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha—Horse and Rider. (4) Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party—Hut. (5) Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad—Rising Sun. (6) All-India Scheduled Castes’ Federation—Elephant. An early decision is expected to be taken regarding the symbols to be assigned to the Indian National Congress and the Socialist Party of India. The Communist Party of India also has selected two symbols and informed the Election Commission of them. These are being considered by the Commission. (40) *ELECTORAL ROLLS FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS 20. Dr. M. V. Gangadhara Siva : (a) Will the Minister of Law be pleased to state by which date the preliminary electoral rolls are likely to be finalised in various parts of the country ? (b) What time is likely to be taken in the printing of the final electoral rolls and is it proposed to print them in India or outside ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): (a) The electoral rolls are expected to be finally published by the end of this month. (b) The rolls are not to be reprinted before final publication. Only addenda and corrigenda necessitated by claims and objections will be printed and added to the preliminary rolls. No printing has been or will be done outside India. *P. D., Vol. 9, Part I, 9th August 1951, p. 149.

1050 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (41) *WOMEN VOTERS AND ELECTORAL ROLLS 24. Shri S. N. Das: (a) Will the Minister of Law be pleased to state the total number of entries made for women voters which were subsequently removed according to the instructions issued by the Government of India on the ground that they did not bear the proper name of women voters—giving statewise figures ? (b) Is it a fact that these entries were made by the enumerators without asking the names from those for whom these entries were made? (c) Is it a fact that a large number of representations have been received by Government to revise the electoral rolls with a view to include the names of large number of such women voters ? (d) If so, have Government considered those representations and come to any decision ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): (a) to (d) The attention of the hon. Member is invited to the reply to starred question No. 120 given on 9th August 1951. (42) **CENTRAL GRANTS FOR BACKWARD CLASSES 322. Shri Kshudiram Mahata : Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state the amount of Central grants in the year 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951 sanctioned for the education of backward classes other than scheduled castes and scheduled tribes ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): Under the Government of India scheme of scholarships to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes, scholarships are awarded to suitable Backward Classes candidates for their post-matriculation education in India. The expenditure incurred so far on award of scholarships to *P. D., Vol. 9, Part I, 9th August 1951, p. 151. **Ibid., p. 400.

1051PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES Backward Classes other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is as under:— 1948-49 ... ... Rs. Nil. 1949-50 ... ... 2,46,327 1950-51 ... ... 3,57,504 In the year 1951-52, scholarships of the total value of Rs. 3,65,000 are likely to be awarded to Backward Classes candidates. Shri Kshudiram Mahata: May I know whether any provincial allocations is made of the total sum before considering any particular application and, if so, on what basis ? Dr. Ambedkar: I do not suppose that there is any provincial allocation. Shri Rudrappa: May I know the number of applications in 1949-50 and 1950-51 ? Dr. Ambedkar: The figures are as follows :— 1949-50.—Applications received 3006. Awards made 349. 1950-51.—Applications received 3830. Awards made 517 Shri Rathnaswamy: What is the method adopted by Government to see that the grants given for the benefit of these backward classes are properly spent by the States ? Dr. Ambedkar: The money is not awarded to the States. The applications are disposed of by a Central Board. The States do not intervene at all. Thakur Krishna Singh: May I know whether any lists of the backward classe in the merged States and Part B and Part C States have been prepared by the State Government concerned and is it not a fact that applications for scholarships presented by the students from these areas are not taken up because there is no such list ? Dr. Ambedkar: There is the list all right. These lists are made on the recommendations made by the various States. Shri R. K. Chaudhari: May I know when the lists of the backward classes were last revised ?