Vol. 17, Part II · pages 421–425

396 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES BAHISHKRIT HITKARINI SABHA Memorandum of Association I. The name of the Society will be :— “Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha” II. Its activities will be confined to the Presidency of Bombay. III. The Head Office of the Sabha will be situated in Bombay. IV. The aims and objects of the Sabha will be— (a) To promote the spread of education among the Depresses Classes by opening Hostels or by employing such other means as may seem necessary or desirable. (b) To promote the spread of culture among the Depressed Classes by opening Libraries, Social Centers and Classes or Study Circles. ( c) To advance and improve the economic condition of the Depressed Classes by starting Industrial and Agricultural Schools. (d) To represent the grievances of the Depressed Classes. ( e) To organize or help any club, association or any movement calculated to bring about the general enlightenment, social rise or economic betterment of the Depressed Classes. (V) In pursuance of the above objects and for the purpose of carrying out the same:— (1) To purchase, hire, lease or otherwise acquire any rights and privileges necessary or convenient for the purpose of the Sabha. (2) To erect, construct, alter and maintain any building or buildings necessary or convenient for the purpose of the Sabha.

397BAHISHKRIT HITKARINI SABHA (3) To sell, improve, develop, exchange, lease, mortgage, dispose of, turn to account, manage or otherwise deal with all or any part of the property or rights and privileges of the Sabha. (4) To accept donations or property for general or specific purposes of the Sabha on condition or conditions not inconsistant with the aims and objects of the Sabha. (5) To amalgamate with or incorporate within itself any Society or Association with aims and objects similar to the aims and objects of the Sabha. VI. The Government of the Sabha will be conducted by : (i) Board of Trustees (ii) Council of Management (iii) Board of Control appointed in accordance with the rules of the Sabha. VII. At any meeting of the Board of Trustees, Council or Management and Board of Control, the quorum will consist of 10, 7 and 15 members of those bodies respectively. No quorum will be necessary for any adjourned meeting. VIII. No member of the Board of Trustees, Council of Management and Board of Control will be entitled to any pecuniary benefit from the properties and funds of the Sabha by reason of its being such member of the Board of Trustees, Council of Management or Board of Control. RULES 1. Any person either male or female who is above the age of 18 years will be eligible for membership of the Sabha. 2. Any person desirous of becoming a member of the Sabha may apply on the form of application provided for that purpose. 3. The Council of Management will have power to admit or refuse any application for membership.

398 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 4. The General Body of the Sabha will have power of dismissing any member of the Sabha for gross misconduct endangering the interest of the Sabha by a vote of 3/4 of the members present at the meeting. 5. The members of the Sabha will be classified as follows: (i) Patrons : Those who pay Rs. 3,000 or more in one sum or in such suitable instalments as the Council of Management may approve of. (ii) Supporters : Those who pay Rs. 2,000 or more in one sum or in such suitable instalments as the Council of Management may approve of. (iii) Sympathisers: Those who pay Rs. 1000 or more in one sum or in such suitable instalments as the Council of Management may approve of. (iv) Life Members: Those who pay Rs. 500 or more in one sum or in such suitable instalments as the Council of Management may approve of. (v) Associate Members : Those who pay Rs. 200 or more in one sum or in such suitable instalments as the Council of Management may approve of. (vi) Ordinary Members : These will be of the following classes : A : Those who pay Rs. 25 per Year B : ” ” ” Rs. 10 ” ” C : ” ” ” Rs. 5 ” ” D : ” ” ” Rs. 3 ” ” E : ” ” ” Re. 1 ” ” Board of Trustees : 6. There will be 16 Trustees of the Sabha for life in whom will be vested all the immoveable and moveable property of the Sabha as well as all the funds of the Sabha in whatsoever form. Of these 16 at least 4 shall be residents of Bombay.

399BAHISHKRIT HITKARINI SABHA 7. The Board of Trustees will be elected in the first instance by the General Body of the members of the Sabha. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Trustees by death, resignation, incapacity or residence abroad will be filled up by a vote 3/4 of the General Body of the members of the Sabha assembled for that purpose within 6 months from the occurrence thereof. 8. The Board of Trustees will at all times contain a member or members of the Mahar, Chambhar, Mang and Dhed communities and shall be so constituted that it would have 4 Trustees from Konkan, 2 from Gujarat, 2 from Kanerese and 8 from other districts of the Bombay Presidency. 9. All property moveable and immovable and all funds will be held in the name of the Trustees. 10. The Council of Management will submit an annual Budget of Expenditure appropriated under convenient major and minor Heads with the Expenditure to be incurred thereon in the coming year and the same shall come into operation as passed by the Trustees. Provided that the Council of Management may submit supplementary budget at any time during the course of the year. 11. The Trustees will meet at least once a year within three months from the close of the previous official year of the Sabha for the purpose of passing the Annual Budget and will meet as often as may be necessary for passing supplementary budget on the requisition of the Council of Management. At all meeting of the Board of Trustees the majority vote will prevail. 12. At all Budget meeting of the Board of Trustees the Chairman of the Council, the General Secretary and the Treasurer will sit as additional members. Provided that none of them will have the right to vote unless they are themselves Trustees. 13. There will be previous notice of one month for every meeting of the Board of Trustees and for every meeting of the General Body of the members of the Sabha for the purpose of electing a Trustee. 14. The Trustees will have the right by a resolution duly passed, to delegate their powers to one or more of their members and to

400 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES authorise that certain properties and funds will be vested in or dealt with in the name of one or more of their members. 15. The Trustees will have the right of voting on any proposition or question by circular issued in that behalf by the General Secretary. All Resolutions so voted on by circular will be embodied in the minute book of the Board of Trustees. 16. The Trustees may choose from among themselves a chairman for their meeting from time to time who will sign the minutes of the meeting before the meeting is dissolved. 17. The Secretary of the Sabha will be ex-officio Secretary of the Board of Trustees and shall prepare the minutes of every meeting of the Board of Trustees. Council of Management 18. The Council of Management will be the executive of the Sabha for the official year and will consist of 20 members of the Sabha constituted as follows: (i) Four elected every year by the Board of Trustees from such among themselves as are residents at Bombay. (ii) Twelve elected every year by the General Body of the Sabha. (iii) Four co-opted every year by the 16 composed of (i) and (ii) from among the Depressed Classes members of the Sabha. 19. Any vacancy occurring in the Council of Management by death, resignation, incapacity or residence abroad of any member thereof will be filled up by the remaining members of the Council by a resolution duly passed at a meeting to be called for the purpose. 20. The Council will have the power : (a) To hold and manage the funds and properties of the Sabha for the purpose of the Sabha on behalf of the Trustees of the Sabha.