2. The Cabinet Mission and the Untouchables: by Dr. Ambedkar

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) 334. (b) The terms and conditions of hire are laid down in the Rules for the allotment of refrigerators in Delhi and New Delhi, a copy of which is placed on the table of the House. (c) Only one officer, viz., Additional Chief Engineer, Central Public Works Department, has been allotted a refrigerator for the Summer Season 1946.

(d) No.

(c) No.

(f) The question does not arise.

* * * Diwan Chaman Lall: With reference to the answer to (d), may I ask whether they are not available to members of the Assembly.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedka r : Under the rules, they are not available.

Mr. Manu Subedar: May I know what has happened to the refrigerators which were requisitioned by the Government during the war from private individuals ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I want notice. 467

* Requisitioning of House No. 42-B, Hanuman Lane, New Delhi 1756. Mr. P. B. Gole : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether house No. 42-B, Hanuman Lane, New Delhi, requisitioned by Government is lying vacant for a long time ? If so, since when ? Are Government paying the rent of the house lying vacant?

(b) Is it a fact that the house was occupied by Mr. Manoharlal Tuli before it was requisitioned by Government ? (c) Is it a fact that when the house was vacated by Mr. Manoharlal, it was in a damaged condition and, consequently, no allottee was prepared to occupy the same ? (d) Is it a fact that Government now propose to release the house ?

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1946, 12lh April 1946, p. 3886.

Why was not the house released earlier when nobody was prepared to occupy it ?

(e) What is the approximate date when Government would release the house ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The house was allotted to an officer on 15th September, 1945, but as he did not occupy it, it has been lying vacant ever since that date. Government are paying rent for the period the house has been lying vacant.

(b) Yes.

(c) No.

(d) Yes. The latter part of the question does not arise in view of the answer given to part (c) of the question. (e) About the 15th April 1946.

468

* Application of National Labour Tribunal Ordinance to Officers of Merchant Navy 1757. Miss Maniben Kara : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state :

(a) Whether the National Labour Tribunal Ordinance made applicable to certified officers on ships of Indian Registry in December, 1944, was an emergency measure;

(b) whether Government consider that the same emergency still continues to exist; if so, for what reasons; and (c) whether in view of the restriction on the liberties of seamen that the Ordinance imposes, Government propose to revoke it at an early date, at least as far as the officers of the Merchant Navy are concerned ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes.

(b) No.

(c) The provisions of the National service (Technical Personnel) Ordinance 1940, have been generally relaxed since February 1946, and they are not being used to take technical personnel into the national service. Control over the movement of technical personnel has also

*Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1946, 12th April 1946, p. 3887.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

been relaxed except in the case of key technical staff engaged on work of national importance. In the case of ships pilots, the provisions of the Ordinance may be invoked to the extent necessary to keep them at their posts of duty until the end of April 1946, by which date it is hoped to withdraw control over their movements unless it is found that the control is still necessary in the interests of the quick handling of imported foodgrains at ports. It is proposed to withdraw all control over the movements of other technical personnel by the end of April, 1946.

Miss Maniben Kara : Is the Honourable member aware that the Ordinance is being used against the Indian Merchant Naval Officers particularly by Indian Companies, that under the threat of this Ordinance, the Merchant Navy Officers are harassed ? I am not talking of the pilots of the Indian merchant Navy.

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am not aware of it, but if particular instances are brought to my notice I will look into the matter.

Miss Maniben Kara : Is it not a fact that some appeal was made by the Maritime Union of India against the use of this Ordinance by Scindia Company (India) ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am afraid I must have notice of that.

Mr. President: He wants to have notice.

469

*Rates of Supply of Electricity in Delhi, New Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta 1771. Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava : Will the Honourable the Labour Member kindly state:

(a) the rates of supply of electricity in Delhi and New Delhi compared with those in Calcutta and Bombay. (b) the reasons why the rates in Delhi and New Delhi cannot be brought into line with those in Calcutta or Bombay ; and

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1946, 12th April 1946, p. 3897.

(c) whether any lowering of rates can be expected in Delhi in the near future ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) A statement is laid on the table.

(b) The rates for lighting and fans in Delhi and New Delhi are already uniform. The question of removal of the slight difference in the rates for power is under consideration. The reason for the difference between New Delhi and Delhi rates on the one hand and Calcutta or Bombay rates on the other is that the Supply undertakings at Bombay and Calcutta, having considerably larger loads both domestic and industrial, are able to maintain a very much better lead factor than smaller undertakings at Delhi and New Delhi. Apart from this, conditions vary from place to place and much depends upon the types of generating plant used and other facilities connected with such plant.

(c) It is not possible to make any statement on this subject at present, but the Honourable member can rest assured that the matter is constantly under attention.

470

* Constitution of the Delhi Central Electric Power Authority 1772. Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava : Will the Honourable the Labour Member kindly state:

(a) the constitution of the Delhi Central Electric Power Authority Company, Limited;

(b) if it is a fact that all the members of the Board are Europeans with the Exception of one Indian;

(c) if it is a fact that the Delhi Municipality is represented on the Board;

(d) if it is a fact that the Delhi Municipalty insist on having two representatives instead of one;

(e) if Government propose to take over the Delhi Electric and Traction Company, Limited, and if the said Company had a

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1946, 12th April 1946, p. 3899.

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

representative on the Board of the Delhi Central Electric Power Authority Company, Limited; and (f) what objections, if any, Government have got to give more representation to the Delhi Municipality by giving it the representation enjoyed by the Delhi Electric and Traction Company, Limited, when it is taken over in addition to the representation already given to it ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Presumably the Honourable member refers to the Delhi Central Electric Power Authority. Its membership is as follows:

(1) Governor General in Council;

(2) Delhi Factories Owners’ Federation;

(3) Commander, Delhi Independent Brigade Area; (4) The Punjab Chamber of Commerce ;

(5) The Delhi Electric Supply and Traction Company, Ltd., (6) New Delhi Municipal Committee.

(b) Yes.

(c) No.

(d) This was the position of the Delhi Municipal Committee in 1938 when the Delhi Central Electric Power Authority was established. The question has not been raised since. (e) Yes.

(f) As the Delhi Municipal Committee is not a member of the Delhi Central Electric Power Authority Limited, the question of giving it additional representation does not arise. 471

* Dr. Krishnan’s Suggestions re: Mineral Resources of India 1773. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Will the Honourable the Labour member be pleased to state :

(a) if his attention has been drawn to the report of a lecture delivered by Dr. M. S. Krishnan to the Geology Association of the Presidency College, Madras, on the 14th of March, as reported in the Hindu of the 14lh March ;

* Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1946, 12th April 1946, p. 3899.

(b) What steps are being taken to obtain adequate quantities and build up reserves of copper, silver, nickel, platinum, tin, mercury, graphite and potash;

(c) what steps are also being taken to develop and exploit hydraulic (electrical) power resources in all those Provinces which do not have coal mines within easy reach, so as to develop local industries;

(d) whether any steps are being taken to draw power from wind through wind mills and to popularise the use of wind mills ; and (e) whether Dr. Krishnan’s suggestion of establishing “well-equipped laboratories” to “assess the quality and quantity of the various minerals” and also his suggestion that locally available minerals shall be utilised in preference to imports will be fully studied ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes.

(b) During the war Government had a proposal under consideration to build up in India a strategic stock of certain important minerals and related substances; but it did not materialise. Government are considering a revision of its mineral policy and due attention will in that connection be paid to these minerals which are in short supply in India.

(c) Generally speaking steps are being taken by Provincial and State Governments to develop and exploit Hydro-Electric Power Resources to the maximum extent of technical manpower at present available for such investigations. Central Technical Power Board is already assisting in certain cases subject to limit of its present strength in manpower and will do more when adequate technical staff is procured. Government of India are fully aware of the necessity for far greater measure of HydroElectric System development throughout the country than is at present being undertaken, particularly in areas which are remote from major coal deposits, but they consider that this cannot be achieved without a far greater body of experienced technical personnel than at present exists and to this end are doing their utmost to recruit Specialists Technical personnel on contract. (d) No special steps are being taken by Government of India to draw power from wind or to popularise use of Wind Mills at present. Government is advised that such installations, while useful in selected