Vol. 17, Part III · pages 291–295

262 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES treaty between the new Indian National Government and the Government of His Majesty in Great Britain. Resolution No. II : Constitution Demanded This Conference declares that no constitution will be acceptable to the Scheduled Castes unless, (1) it has the consent of the Scheduled Castes, (2) it recognizes the fact that the Scheduled Castes are a distinct, separate and important element in the national life of India, and (3) contains within itself provisions which will give to the Scheduled Castes a real sense of security under the new constitution and which are set out in the following resolutions. Resolution No. III : Provisions in New Constitution For creating this sense of security in the Scheduled Castes, this Conference demands that the following provisions shall be made in the new constitution. Provisions in Provincial Budgets for Scheduled Castes Advance (1) That, in the budget of every Provincial Government anannual sum, as may be determined upon by agreement be set apart for promoting primary education among the children of the Scheduled Castes and another annual sum for promoting advanced education among them and such sums shall be declared to be the first charge on the revenues of the Province. Representation in Executive Government (2) That, provision shall be made by law securing representation to the Scheduled Castes in all executive Governments, Central and Provincial, the proportion of which shall be determined in accordance with their number, their needs and their importance. Representation in Public Services (3) That, provision shall be made by law for securing representation to the Scheduled Castes in the Public Services, the proportion of which shall be fixed in accordance with their

263IF DEMOCRACY....................OUR DOOM numbers, their needs and their importance. This Conference insists that in the case of security services such as Judiciary, Police and Revenue, provision shall be made that the proportion fixed for the Scheduled Castes shall, subject to the rule of minimum qualification, be realized within a period of ten years. Representation by Statute in all Legislatures and Local Bodies (4) That, provision shall be made by law for guaranteeing to the Scheduled Castes representation in all legislatures and local bodies in accordance with their number, needs and importance. Separate Electorate (5) That, provision shall be made by law whereby the representation of the Scheduled Castes in all legislatures and local bodies be made by the method of Separate Electorates. Representation on Public Service Commissions (6) That, provision shall be made by law for the representation of the Scheduled Castes on all Public Service Commissions, Central and Provincial. Resolution No. IV : Change in Village System That, so long as the Scheduled Castes continue to live on the outskirts of the village, with no source of livelihood and in small numbers as compared to the Hindus, they will continue to remain Untouchables and subject to the tyranny and oppression of the Hindus and will not be able to enjoy free and full life. For the protection of the Scheduled Castes from the tyranny and oppression of the caste Hindus, to enable them to develop to their fullest manhood, to give them economic, and social security as also to pave the way for the removal of Untouchability, this Conference has after long and mature deliberation come to the conclusion that a radical change must be made in the village system now prevalent in India and which is the parent of all ills from which the Scheduled Castes are suffering for so many centuries at the hands of the Hindus. Realising the necessity of

264 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES these changes this Conference holds that alongwith the Constitutional changes in the system of Government there must be a change in the village system now prevalent made along the following lines : Separate Villages (1) The Constitution should provide for the transfer of the Scheduled Castes from their present habitation and constitute separate Scheduled Castes villages, away from and independent of the Hindu villages. Settlement Commissions (2) For the Settlement of the Scheduled Castes in new villages, a provision shall be made in the Constitution for the establishment of a Settlement Commission. Land for Scheduled Castes (3) All Government land which is cultivable and which is not occupied shall be handed over to the Commission to be held in trust for the purpose of making new settlements of the Scheduled Castes. Acquisition of New Land (4) The Commission shall be empowered to purchase new land under the Land Acquisition Act from private owners to complete the scheme of settlement of the Scheduled Castes. Central Government to provide Minimum of Five Crores Per Annum (5) The Constitution shall provide that the Central Government shall grant to the Settlement Commission minimum sum of Rupees five crores per annum to enable the Commission to carry out their duty in this behalf.” Mr. President, these resolutions are really the sheet-anchor of our movement. They have been so clearly worded that it needs no long speech from me to commend them to you. The first Resolution condemns the action of the Government in announcing the Cripps Proposals which are detrimental to the

265IF DEMOCRACY....................OUR DOOM interests of the Scheduled Castes. Resolutions II, III & IV lay down the provisions absolutely necessary in the future Constitution for the political, economic and social welfare of the Scheduled Castes. We have no faith in the high sounding promises of the caste Hindus. How can one trust persons, who went against the Poona Pact before its ink was dry ? It will be the blackest day in the history of the world, if the destinies of the millions of the Depressed Classes of India were to be entrusted to such communities as are thirsting to stop the progress so far made by the Scheduled Castes. These resolutions are our Magna Charta and each member of the Depressed Classes must be prepared even to make the extreme sacrifice to achieve the objects laid down in it. Even now our people in the villages are treated no better than slaves, but when our destinies will be handed over into the hands of the caste Hindus, we can picture and imagine what our fate will be. It is, therefore, the duty of every individual of our community to support these resolutions. With these few words, I strongly commend these resolutions for your acceptance. Rao Bahadur N. Shivraj asked Mr. Rai Saheb Shamlal of Allahabad to second the Resolution. Rai Saheb Shamlal said, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure to second the resolution moved by my friend, Mr. B. K. Gaikwad of Nasik. I have been a social worker of the Depressed Classes for nearly three decades. It has been our greatest drawback in not having a chartered programme of our ultimate aims and objects. This drawback will now be removed by the Resolution just moved. When the Cripps Proposals were disclosed at Delhi, Dr. Ambedkar lost no time in inviting to Delhi leaders of the Scheduled Castes from all over India. After we met there, we unanimously decided on the rejection of the proposals which were entirely one sided and were calculated to cause immense harm to all the Depressed Classes. It is unnecessary for me to inflict a long speech in telling you what are our drawbacks and what disabilities we are suffering from. Each one of us suffers these daily and mentioning them here will be considered redundant. The

266 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES resolution is for the good of the present generation and the generations to come and deserves unanimous acceptance. I can assure the Conference on behalf of the Province from which I am coming of our hearty support in carrying out the mandate. With these few words I second the Resolution and commend it for your acceptance. The resolution was supported by the following delegates: (1) Mr. Gopal Singh, M. B. E., M. L. A. (Punjab). (2) Mr. N. N. Das, M. A., B. L. ( Calcutta ). (3) Mr. R. R. Bhole, B. A., L L. B., M. L. A., (Poona, Bombay ), (4) Mr. A. D. Roy, B. A., M. L. C. (Jessore, Bengal). (5) Mr. P. M. Patani, ( Ahmedabad, Gujarat ) (6) Mr. Mangilal, (Rajputana ). (7) Mr. H. L. Kosare, B. A., ( Nagpur ) (8) Mr. B. H. Varale, M.L.A. ( Karnatak, Bombay ). The resolutions, having been proposed, duly seconded and supported, the President put them to vote. As there was none to disapprove these resolutions, he declared the resolutions unanimously carried. President, Rao Bahadur N. Shivraj then called upon Mr. D. G. Jadhav, B. A., L. L. B., M. L. A., Jalgaon (Bombay) to move the second part of the resolution viz. Section V of the resolution.