Vol. 15 · pages 1091–1095

1072 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (57) *OFFICERS IN THE MINISTRY OF LAW 227. Prof. K. T. Shah: Will the Minister of Law be pleased to state: (a) the number of ( i) Gazetted, and of ( ii) non-Gazetted officers, clerks and Class IV servants in his secretariat, on: (i) 15th August 1947, ( ii) 31st March 1948; (iii) 31st March 1949; (iv) 31st March 1950; ( v) 31st March 1951; and (b) the number of officers, clerks and Class IV servants, appointed temporarily in the first instance and subsequently ( i) made permanent, (ii) retired or ( iii) retrenched, during each of the years 1947-48 (post-partition), 1948-49, 1949-50 and 1950-51 ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): The information asked for is not readily available. Its collection will involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. (58) **LIST OF POLLING STATIONS 1069. Pandit Kunzru: Will the Minister of Law be pleased to state : (a) whether the Election Commission has asked the Bombay State Government or the District Magistrates to prepare a list of the polling stations and issued instructions that the lists should not he shown to any party before they are finally approved : (b) whether the Bombay Government have in spite of the Election Commission’s instructions, issued orders to the District Magistrate of any districts that the preliminary lists should be shown to the Vice-Chairman of Rural Development Boards : (c) whether these Vice-Chairmen are members of District Congress Committees and in many cases their Chairmen ; and (d) If the answer to parts ( a) and ( b) above be in the affirmative, what action Government propose to take in the matter ? *P. D., Vol. 9, Part I, 12th Septembert 1951, p. 1270. **Ibid., 17th September 1951, p. 1273.

1073PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): ( a) No. The Election Commission did not issue instructions that the lists of polling stations should not be shown to any political party before final approval. On the contrary, the Commission suggested to the State Governments that their tentative plans regarding polling stations might be circulated to the different political parties, and also given as much publicity as possible. A copy of the Commission’s letter dated 26th May, 1951 to all State Governments is placed on the Table of the House for information. ( See Appendix VII, Annexure No. 9). (b) The Government of Bombay issued instructions to the Collectors that the tentative plans as approved by Government should be shown to the political parties and members of the public. These plans are being kept at the District Headquarters and Taluka Headquarters in that State for inspection, and the Collectors have been asked to consider carefully the suggestions or criticisms from the public. With a view to facilitating their work the Collectors, who are Chairmen of the Rural Development Boards, were also instructed by the Government of Bombay to show the plans to the Vice-. Chairmen of those Boards. (c) Some of the Vice-Chairmen of the Rural Development Boards in Bombay are members of District Congress Committees, and in a few cases their Chairmen. (d) Does not arise. Pandit Kunzra: May I ask whether as a matter of fact the preliminary lists of polling stations have been shown to other persons than the Vice-Chairmen of the Rural Development Boards in the Bombay State ? Dr. Ambedkar: I have no such information. Pandit Kunzru: Why was it necessary then for the Bombay Government to ask the District Magistrates to show these preliminary lists of polling stations to the Vice-Chairmen of the Rural Development Boards if the instructions issued by the Election Commission were of a general character relating to all political parties ? Dr. Ambedkar: That was probably because it was necessary to collect the organised opinion of the people in that area.

1074 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava: Is it a fact that the lists of the electors are arranged alphabetically for each constituency? Dr. Ambedkar: I am afraid I have not seen the electoral roll myself. Therefore, I cannot say. Probably, the hon. Member has more information. Pandit Thakur Das Bhagava: Is it a fact that since there are no separate lists for each polling station, persons living in the area of a particular polling station will have to travel several miles before they will be able to vote in that constituency ? Dr. Ambedkar: I do not think so. I think all people would be informed as to the number of voters who have to go to a particular polling station. Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava: All these lists are arranged alphabetically. This means that there will be no separate list for each polling station. Unless there is a separate list for each polling station, people will not know where they have to go and they will have to travel several miles. Dr. Ambedkar: I am not aware that the voters’ lists are arranged alphabetically. Mr. Deputy Speaker: I think they are arranged alphabetically and a list is hung in each polling station. Dr. Ambedkar: I will make enquiries about it. Mr. Deputy Speaker: Anyway, it does not arise out of this question. Pandit Kunzru: May I ask the Law Minister whether instructions of the kind issued by the Election Commission to the Bombay State have been issued in respect of other States also ? Dr. Ambedkar: That letter was a general letter issued to all the States. Pandit Kunzru: Can he tell me whether these preliminary lists of polling stations have been shown to members of the political parties in the other States ? Dr. Ambedkar: My friend is assuming that there are political parties everywhere. If there are any political parties, I am sure the State Government will take steps to show the

1075PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES lists to them in the same way as they are showing to the others. Pandit Kunzru: My hon. Friend cannot be such a simpleton as to believe that there is only one political party in the country. Dr. Ambedkar: The others are speculative perhaps. (59) *LEPROSY 1074. Shri Sivan Pillay: Will the Minister of Health be pleased to state : (a) whether Government have got accurate statistics regarding persons affected with the disease of leprosy, statewise; (b) if so, the State in India which has the highest percentage of the incidence of the disease in relation to population; and (c) the steps taken by Government to combat this dreadful disease ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : ( a) and (b) As often stated before, no accurate statistics are available. (c) The matter is primarily the concern of State Governments. The Government of India have had for some time a plan to establish a Central Leprosy Teaching and Research Institute in the country whose objects it will be to undertake research into the problems relating to leprosy, to promote field studies for the application of the results of research, to train leprosy workers, to give technical advice and guidance for anti-leprosy work and to participate actively in the organisation and development of leprosy institutes in States. Financial stringency alone has kept the scheme from maturing. But voluntary bodies and some of the States are doing good work among sufferers from the disease. Research is also going on. Shri Sivan Pillay: May I know, whether Government are aware that a Central Leprosy Relief Committee has been formed by Gandhi *P. D., Vol. 9, Part I, 17th September 1951, p. 1378.

1076 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Smarak Nidhi ? In what way do Government propose to co-operate with it in the eradication of this scourge ? Dr. Ambedkar: Government is bound to co-operate in all possible ways it can. Shri Sivan Pillay: May I know whether there are no leprosy clinics at all, and if so which is that unfortunate State ? Dr. Ambedkar: I can believe that there may be many States where there are no such clinics. (60) *LADY HARDINGE MEDICAL COLLEGE 1084. Shri Alexander : Will the Minister of Health be pleased to state ? (a) the financial aid given to the Lady Hardinge Medical College by the Government of India; (b) whether the Government of India are represented on its governing body and if so, by how many members; (b) whether this institution is intended to serve the whole of India; (d) whether any principle is observed in the matter of allocation of seats to the various States; and (e) the number of students admitted this year State-wise ? The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): (a) The grants paid to the Lady Hardinge Medical College vary from year to year. The grants paid during the last three years are as follows: 1948-49 ... Rs. 5,23,100 1949-50 ... Rs. 10,80,576 1950-51 ... Rs. 9,44,000 (b) The Government of India as such are not represented on the Governing Body. Seven officials are, however, members of that Body. *P. D., Vol. 9, Part I, 17th September 1951, p. 1388.