Vol. 2 · pages 301–305

282 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES of the people of Badlapur published in the Pratiyogi, dated the 12th June 1926 ; (b) if so, whether they still withhold the permission to prosecute as asked for ? The Honourable Sir Cowasji Jehangir : (a) Government have noticed a summary of the article published in the Pratiyogi, dated the 13th February 1926, but not the extracts of statements of the people of Badlapur published in the issue of the paper of 12th June 1926. (b) Yes. (B.L.C. Debates, Vol. XX, p. 759, dated 27th July 1927) Public Service : Depressed Classes Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Will Government be pleased to give the following information regarding the strength of the depressed classes in the public service :— District Department Number of depressed classes employed As peons On the staff The Honourable Sir Chunilal Mehta : The information has been called for. (B.L.C. Debates, Vol. XX, p. 847, dated 27th July 1927) Watandar Mahars : Remuneration Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Will Government be pleased to give the following information for each village in the Presidency :— Village Totalpopulation No. ofofficiatingmahars Remuneration to officiating mahars estimated from all sources, in rupees Total remunerationFrom inami and From Baluta Government salary The Honourable Mr. J. L. Rieu : As the time and trouble involved in obtaining the information would be out of all proportions to its possible utility from the public point of view. Government regret that they are not prepared to collect it. If the Honourable Member will select a small number of typical villages for this enquiry, Government will consider whether it is practicable to supply the information he desires in regard to them. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is not a fact that the information asked for in this question is obtainable from the watan proceedings of every village ? The Honourable Mr. J. L. Rieu : In any case I would call the honourable member’s attention to the fact that this question would have to be sent to

283QUESTIONS BY DR. AMBEDKAR every village in the Bombay Presidency. The labour and time involved in collecting this information would be enormous. (B.L.C. Debates, Vol. XX, p. 1065, dated 27th July 1927) Officiating Watandar Mahars Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Will Government be pleased to state— (a) whether there are any rules governing the number of the officiating Watandar Mahars in the villages in the different parts of the presidency ? (b) if so, whether they will publish them or refer to them ? The Honourable Mr. J. L. Rieu : (a) and (b) There are no rules on the subject. The appointment of officiating Watandar Mahars is governed by the provisions of section 64 of the Bombay Hereditary Offices Act. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Is the Honourable Member aware that discretion is left to the Collector under section 64 in exercise of which he can make rules regarding officiating Watandar Mahars ? The Honourable Mr. J. L. Rieu : I am aware of that. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Is the honourable member aware that in a certain village 16 Mahars are officiating as Watandars ? The Honourable Mr. J. L. Rieu : If the honourable member gives notice I will make enquiries. (B.L.C. Debates, Vol. XX, p. 1207, dated 27th July 1927) Bridge on the Ulhas River at Badlapur Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Will Government be pleased to state— (a) whether the consideration of the question of constructing a low level causeway on the river Ulhas at Badlapur in the Thana District has not yet been finished ; (b) whether the whole correspondence including the Commissioner’s and the Collector’s reports thereon would be placed on the Council Table ; (c) whether they are aware that a high level bridge instead of a low level causeway is absolutely necessary ? The Honourable Mr. J. L. Rieu : (a) No. But it is hoped that a conclusion will soon be reached. (b) Government are not prepared to place the correspondence on the table. (c) No. (B.L.C. Debates, Vol. XX, p. 1472, dated 27th July 1927) Forest Land for Cultivation : Grants to Depressed Classes Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Will Government be pleased to state— (a) the total extent of forest land given for cultivation in each district of this Presidency in the years 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1926 ; (b) how much of this was given to the Depressed Classes in each district in the years mentioned ?

284 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES The Honourable Mr. G. B. Pradhan : (a) and (b) A statement furnishing the required information is placed on the Council Table. The area shown in the statement is for each forest division of the Presidency. Statement of forest land given out for cultivation during 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1926 Forest Division Total extent of forest land given out for cultivation 1923 1924 1925 1926 Northern Circle Acres Acres Acres Acres 1 Panch Mahals .. .. 660 7,536 …. 9 2 Surat .. .. 1,175 1,152 3,558 …. 3 North Thana .. .. 191 171 …. 5 4 West Thana .. .. 339 330 295 …. 5 East Thana .. .. 21,463 2,237 2,810 3,733 6 West Nasik .. .. 3,080 432 1,817 256 7 East Nasik .. .. 8,493 2,714 2,100 2,482 Central Circle 1 East Khandesh .. .. 186 401 1,756 1,872 2 North Khandesh .. .. …. 1,325 1,660 1,815 3 West Khandesh .. .. 90 51 235 560 4 Poona .. .. 1 1 70 36 5 Ahmednagar .. .. 4,254 55 86 88 6 Satara .. .. 3,516 252 473 285 Southern Circle 1 Northern Division, Kanara .. 22 …. …. 7 2 Eastern Division, Kanara .. 105 137 33 7 3 Southern Division, Kanara .. 26 40 31 37 4 Western Division, Kanara .. 133 70 59 5 5 Central Division, Kanara .. 13 6 1 …. 6 Belgaum .. .. 668 719 2,006 2,717 7 Dharwar .. .. 346 25 154 132 Sind Circle 1 Sukkur .. .. 1,841 2,577 1,330 1,888 2 Shikapur .. .. 1,399 1,256 1,066 928 3 Larkana .. .. 4,321 3,143 4,838 5,300 4 Hyderabad . . .. .. 549 1,782 2,071 2,396 5 Karachi .. .. 92 1,093 1,789 3,084

285QUESTIONS BY DR. AMBEDKAR Statement of forest land given out for cultivation during 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1926— contd. Forest Division Land given to the Depressed Classes 1923 1924 1925 1926 Remarks Northern Circle Acres Acres Acres Acres 1 Panch Mahals .. .. 227 1,446 .. 9 2 Surat .. .. 1,175 1,152 3,558 .. 3 North Thana .. .. 191 171 .. 5 4 West Thana .. .. 339 330 295 .. 5 East Thana .. .. 21,463 2,237 2,810 3,733 6 West Nasik .. .. 2,927 411 1,727 243 7 East Nasik .. .. 8,493 2,714 2,100 2,482 Central Circle 1 East Khandesh .. .. .. 30 91 101 2 North Khandesh .. .. .. 1,325 1,660 1,815 3 West Khandesh .. .. 40 37 90 340 4 Poona .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Ahmednagar .. .. 55 .. .. .. 6 Satara .. .. .. .. .. .. Southern Circle 1 Northern Division, .. .. .. .. .. No applications were received from persons of Depressed Classes during these years. 2 Kanara Eastern Division, Kanara .. .. .. .. .. 3 Southern Division, Kanara .. 20 38 28 36 4 5 Western Division, Kanara Central Division, Kanara .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. No applications were received from persons of Depressed Classes during these years. 6 Belgaum .. .. 45 104 23 664 7 Dharwar .. .. .. .. .. .. Do. Sind Cir 1 Sukkur .. .. .. .. .. .. There are no Depressed Classes in Sind who do agricultural work. 2 Shikapur .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Larkana .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Hyderabad .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Karachi .. .. .. .. .. .. (B.T.C. Debates. Vol. XX. pp. 1472-74. dated 27th July 1927)

286 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Tobacco Licence Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Will Government be pleased to state— (a) whether one Narayan Sakharam had applied to the Superintendent of Excise, Tobacco Department, for licence to sell tobacco ; (b) whether his application was refused although the applicant was a military pensioner and was recommended for licence by the Officer Commanding the 117th Rajputs ; (c) the reasons why his application was refused ; (d) whether the application was refused on account of the fact that the applicant belonged to the depressed classes ; (e) whether they make any caste discrimination in the matter of issuing licences ? The Honourable Mr. J. L. Rieu : (a) Yes. (b) Yes. (c) Tobacco licences are only granted to persons in really indigent circumstances who are unable to earn a livelihood by any other means. The person referred to by the honourable member was reported to be quite fit to earn his livelihood in other ways. He was therefore refused a licence. (d) No. (e) No. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Is this in accordance with the rules laid down by the department in the matter of tobacco licences ? The Honourable Mr. J. L. Rieu : I do not think that there are any specific rules on the subject, but that is the practice. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : May I know whether this particular question refers to the honourable member’s department or to the department under the Excise Minister ? The Honourable Mr. J. L. Rieu : This refers to the Revenue Department. Tobacco licences are given out by the Collector of Bombay. (B.L.C. Debates, Vol. XXI. p. 57. dated 29th September 1927) Forest Lands, Nasik : Applications of Mahars Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Will Government be pleased to state— (a) whether they are aware that the Mahars of the village of Pimplad in taluka Nasik had applied to the Collector for forest land ; (b) whether they had asked for survey number 220 in the village of Pimplad ; (c) whether, that being refused, they had asked for survey number 202 in the village of Rajur-Babula ; (d) whether, that being refused they had asked for survey number 71 in the village of Rajur-Babula ; (e) whether it is a fact that even this last application has been rejected ; (f) the reasons for this persistent refusal to consider favourably the applications of these Mahars ?