Dr. Ambedkar As The Member
of Executive Governor General Council
Questions and Answers
______________________________________________
181
[f.1]
Non-Supply of Stools to Lino-Machine Coolies
589.
Seth Yuslif Abdoola Haroon (on behalf of Qazi
Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi) : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state if
it is a fact that the coolies who are working Lino Machine, are not provided with stools
and they have to keep standing throughout the day and that they submitted applications,
but no attention has been paid to them ?
(b)
Is it a fact that the work of Barmen is taken from the Coolies and that the posts of
Barmen have been abolished ?
(c)
Have Government considered the advisability of removing these grievances of the coolies ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar :
(a) The coolies working Lino Type Machines do not really work standing. They are required
to release obstructions in the distributor bar of the Lino machines, for which purpose
they have to climb on Lino machines for attending to them. A stool would, therefore, be
useless for the purpose of their duty. For resting Labourers usually sit on the floor.
(b)
and (c). There are no posts of Barmen in the Government of India Presses and no such post
ever existed in the New Delhi Press. The questions do not, therefore, arise.
182
[f.2]
Labour Adviser to the Labour Department
[f.3]627.
Mr. K. S. Gupta : (a) Will the Honourable
Member for Labour please state if the post of Labour Adviser to the Labour Department is a
new creation ? If so, why is it created ?
(b)
If it is an already existing post, who was the last incumbent, and on what salary ?
(c)
Is it a fact that Mr. B. L. Waters has been appointed Labour adviser to the Labour
Department of the Central Government ? What is his salary and overseas allowance and
allowances, if any ?
(d)
Is it a war measure that necessitated the appointment of Mr. Waters ? What was he drawing
as salary in the British Ministry of Labour and National Service ?
(e)
Has he any previous experience of Indian conditions ? If so, under what Head of the
Government of India ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar :
(a) and (b). The post of Labour Adviser was created in December 1942. It was held by Mr.
D. T. Jack till June 1943 and is now held by Mr. B. L. Waters. Mr. Jack's salary was Rs.
2,750 a month.
The
Labour Adviser is to advise on all important matters of Labour legislation and
administration, and in particular the manner in which Labour problems that are under
consideration or which may arise, have been or are being dealt with in England.
(c)
Yes. Mr. Waters draws a salary of Rs. 2,000 p.m. He is not paid any overseas of other
monthly allowance.
(d)
Yes. At the time of his appointment to his present post, Mr. Waters was drawing a salary
of £880 in the scale of £850—30—1,000 per annum in the British Ministry of
Labour and National Service. (e) No, Sir.
183
[f.4]
Want of Light in certain North Block Clerks' Lavatories
629.
Sardar Sant Singh : (a) With reference to his answer to starred question No. 432, dated
the 30th March, 1943, will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether he is
aware that the clerks' lavatory adjacent to the officers' lavatory on the first floor of
the North Block facing the north-western court-yard has been without a light for more than
a year ?
(b)
Is he aware that there is a clerks' lavatory facing the south-western inner court-yard of
the North Block, the frontage of which is now closed due to formation of some rooms, and
there is a narrow dark passage leading to this lavatory, and that this lavatory has hardly
ever had a light during the last one year or more ?
(c)
If an inspection is made of the other clerks' lavatories in the North Block, or in other
buildings of the Government of India, is the Honourable Member aware that he will find
mostly the same unsatisfactory state of affairs, although apparently the C.P.W.D.
authorities have informed him that such is not the case?
(d)
Is the Honourable Member prepared to pay surprise visits to some of these lavatories,
without informing the C.P.W.D. authorities, say, once in six months or so, in order to
judge the veracity of the statements made to him by the C.P.W.D. authorities ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar :
(a), (b) and (c). Yes, I am aware of the unsatisfactory state of lighting in some of the
clerks' lavatories in the North Block of the Secretariat buildings. The position is as
follows:
Electric
bulbs are invariably provided in clerks' lavatories. Replacements are provided as usual
and all possible means are adopted to ensure their safety. Despite the fact that locks are
used, the bulbs are very often stolen. The records show that since October last about 48
bulbs with an equal number of bulb locks were replaced in six clerks lavatories in the
North Block, out of which only 2 or 3 bulbs are intact while the rest have been stolen. In
the ordinary course, only 15 to 16 bulbs should have been supplied during this period on
all points (taking the average life of a bulb at 1000 hours). As the provision of lamp
locks has not prevented thefts, the Electrical Engineer is arranging to provide a special
type of fittings to electric points in these lavatories. It is hoped that this arrangement
will prevent thefts and improve lighting in the clerks' lavatories.
(d)
In view of the measures that are now proposed to be taken, I do not consider surprise
visits by me necessary.
184
[f.5]
Lawns in front of Orthodox Clerks' Quarters in D.I.Z. Area, New Delhi
630.
Sardar Sant Singh : (a) With reference to his answer to starred question No. 232, dated
the 17th November, 1943, will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether he is
aware that the C.P.W.D. Administration have supplied him with wrong information about the
lawns in front of the orthodox clerks' quarters in the D.I.Z. Area of New Delhi ?
(b)
If the reply to (a) be in the negative, is he prepared to inspect some of these lawns
without taking any P.W.D. officials with him and find out the correctness or otherwise of
the information supplied to this House through him by the C.P.W.D. Administration ?
(c)
If the reply to part (b) be in the negative, will the Honourable Member please state:
(i)
whether in every case beyond the outer wall of the quarters, there is a road on the other
side of which the laws begin;
(ii)
whether it is a fact that the edge of these lawns runs parallel to the walls of the
quarters, i.e., in a straight line as far as the quarters were built in a straight line or
follows any turn, etc., but always running parallel, in a regular manner, to the walls of
the quarters ; (iii) whether this straight alignment of the edges of the lawns is still
maintained ; if so, the width of the said roads, viz.,
between the quarters and the lawns, as originally fixed and laid on, and their width at
the comers or in front of most of the quarters in the Baird Square, Havetock Square, etc.;
(iv)
whether any officer of the C.P.W.D. himself visited all the squares, etc., in order to see
the condition of the lawns ; if so, who was that officer; or whether the matter was left
in the hands of some petty subordinates; and
(v)
whether the Honourable member is prepared to issue instructions to the C.P.W.D. officers
to inspect the places about which complaints are brought to light, personally and invite
half a dozen or so tenants of each totality and find out their grievances, if any, taking
their signatures on a report on the matters in question ? If not, why not ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: (a) and (b). No. I have no reason to believe that the
information furnished to me was incorrect.
(c)
(i) Yes, generally.
(ii)
The lawns usually run parallel to the walls of quarters.
(iii)
The alignment of the edges of the lawns is still maintained and the width of paths is
about 8 feet.
(iv)
The Sub-Divisional officer goes round to see the lawns frequently and the Superintendent,
Horticultural Operations, inspects them occasionally.
(v) Complaints, when made, are attended to by the C.P.W.D. officers and no special instructions appear to be necessary.
185
[f.6]
Copyholders and Revisers passing Readers' Examination of Government of India Press, New
Delhi
646.
Maulana Zafar Ali Khan : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased state :
(a)
whether it is a fact that some Copyholders and Revisers who passed the Readership
Examination in the year 1942, in the third chance (grace chance), in the Government of
India Press, New Delhi, were given to understand that if they would succeeded in
examination they would remain junior to all qualified men who passed in the first and
second chances;
(b)
whether the existing rule was in force in the month of May, 1942, when the examination was
held in the Government of India Press, New Delhi ; and
(c)
whether the rule regarding the promotion of qualified Copyholders and Readers is going to
be amended very shortly in such a way that those men who passed the examination in the
third chance are now going to be declared senior to all ; if so, why ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar :
(a) No.
(b)
Yes.
(c)
The attention of the Honourable Member is invited to the reply given to parts (d) and (f)
of Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi's starred question No. 231 and part (e) of Mr. Muhammad
Hussain Choudhury's question No. 501.
186
[f.7]
High-handedness of Landlords in Delhi
647.
Mr. Kailash Bihari Lall : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state :
(a)
if the attention of Government has been drawn to the article published in the Hindi weekly
named Vaishya Samachar of Delhi under the
heading " Delhi me Makandaron ki Nadirshahi " in its issue of the 12th March,
1944;
(b)
if Government have ascertained that actually influential and rich houseowners, resort to
such tyrannies as have been described in the article, in question, in alliance with the
police officers;
(c)
if it is a fact, that, as stated in the paper, the house rent in the Maliwars Mohalla in
Old Delhi has gone so high as from Rs. 9 to Rs. 21/4/- ;
(d)
if Government propose to get the allegations described in the paper required into, and to
take suitable steps to stop the high handiness of the manner alleged with regard to the
question of house rent in Old Delhi; and
(e) the difficulties in the way of Government in
applying the same law to Old Delhi which regulates and controls the rent in New Delhi ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar :
Enquiries are being made of the total authorities and a reply will be laid on the table of
the House at an early date.
187
[f.8]
Representation of Scheduled Castes in Food Department
648.
Mr. Piare Lall Kureel : (a) Will the Honourable the Food Member be pleased to state the
communal representation including that of Scheduled Castes in the Gazetted and
Non-Gazetted Staff of the Food Department and the Executive and Provincial organisations
thereunder ?
(b)
Are Government satisfied with the present representation of Scheduled Castes in the Food
Department ? If not, what practical steps do they propose to take in order to secure their
due representation in the said Department?
(c)
Do Government propose to reduce the educational qualifications for the above Gazetted and
Non-Gazetted posts in the case of Scheduled Castes ? If not, why not ?
The
Honourable Sir Jwala Prasad Srivastava :
(a)
I. Gazetted Posts : |
|
Europeans
|
22 |
Anglo-Indians
|
1 |
Hindus
other than Scheduled Castes |
60 |
Muslims
|
22 |
Other
Minority Communities |
8 |
Scheduled
Castes |
1 |
II. Non-Gazetted
Posts : |
|
Europeans
|
3 |
Anglo-Indians
|
3 |
Hindus
other than Scheduled Castes |
445 |
Muslims
|
149 |
Other
Minority Communities |
52 |
Scheduled
Castes |
1 |
(b) The reply to the 1st part is in the negative.
With regard to the second part, I would invite the Honourable Member's attention to Home
Department Resolution No. 23/5/42-Ests. (S), dated the 11th August, 1943, under which 8
1/2, per cent of all vacancies to be filled by direct recruitment are to be reserved for
Scheduled Caste candidates and certain concessions in regard to age limit and fees have
been granted to such candidates. Vacancies are advertised in important newspapers for the
information of all candidates.
(c)
No. According to the orders issued under the Home Department Resolution, to which I have
referred, a minimum standard of qualifications has to be prescribed in all cases and the
reservation of vacancies for members of Scheduled Castes is subject to this condition.
188
[f.9]
Hardships suffered by Tenants in Old Delhi and Shahdara
191.
Mr. Muhammad Azhar Ali : (a) Is the Honourable Member for Labour aware of the hardships
suffered by the tenants in Old Delhi and Shahdara ?
(b)
Are Government aware that some rich landlords have increased the rent by 150 per cent
during the last two years and in spite of the applications of the Punjab Urban and Rural
Act ?
(c)
Is it a fact that some landlords have cut off water connections and electric connections
with a view to bring pressure on tenants to vacate the premises or increase the rent ?
(d)
Do Government propose to extend to Old Delhi and Shahdara the provisions of Rent Control
Act lately applied for protection of New Delhi tenants ? If not, why not ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes, generally.
(b)
and (c). I am aware that increases in rent have taken place, but under the Punjab Urban
Rent Restriction Act, 1941, these are matters for the decision of the courts.
(d)
There are administrative difficulties in the extension of the New Delhi House Rent Control
Order, 1939. to the areas in question but the Government of India have other measures
under consideration.
189
[f.10]
Irregularities reported under Payment of Wages Act against East Indian Railway
54.
Mr. Ananga Mohan Dam : (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state the nature
of irregularities reported by the Inspector under the Payment of Wages Act against the
East Indian Railway since 1938, and the action taken thereon by the Government, by the
Railway Board and by the Railway Administration, respectively ? If no action has been
taken, what are the reasons therefor ?
(b)
Have any of these irregularities been repeated in reports from year to year ?
(c)
What action has been taken on the irregularities referred to in part (b) ? If not, why not
?
(d)
What are the reasons for not taking proceedings under the Payment of Wages Act against the
Railway Administration for the repetition of irregularities ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar :
(a) and (b) Information is being obtained and will be placed on the table of the House in
due course.
(c)
The irregularities detected were brought to the notice of Railway Administration for
rectification.
(d)
Government does not consider it necessary to proceed formally under the Act when
satisfactory settlement in individual cases can be otherwise achieved.
190
[f.11]
Technical Experts Recruited for Training of War Technicians
222. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad: (a) Will the Honourable
the Labour Member please slate the number of technical experts recruited by the Government
of India for the training of War Technicians ? What is their monthly emoluments including
salary and other allowances ?
(b) What is the total number of centres of War
Technicians, and how many of these are in close association with Engineering Colleges and
Railway Workshops?
(c)
How many of these expert Instructors are posted in War Technician Centres associated with
Engineering Colleges and Railway Workshops ?
(d)
Now that the Indians have already been trained, can these Instructors be more usefully
employed elsewhere ?
(e)
Is it a fact that these expert Instructors have also been allotted a duty of inspecting
other centres in addition to teaching work ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar:
(a) Apparently the reference is to British Specialist Instructors.
100
British Specialist Instructors were recruited, of whom 87 are now in service. Their
emoluments range between Rs. 620 and Rs. 872 per month with free furnished quarters or
lodging allowance in lieu plus conveyance allowance in suitable cases. (b) total number of
training centres under the technical
Training
Scheme |
270 |
Centres
in Engineering Colleges |
12 |
Centres
in Railway Workshops |
27 |
(c)
10 in each.
(d) In the opinion of Government they cannot
be more usefully employed than in connection with the training of technicians.
(e)
Yes, in a few cases.
Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: Has any centre been
established in Karachi ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I want notice.
Dr.
Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad: Is it not a fact that these expert instructors who are deputed to
centres associated with Engineering Colleges or workshops have got additional duties of
inspecting centres which have been established outside these institutions.
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar:
As I said, yes, in a few cases.
Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : May I know if these
experts who are associated with Engineering Colleges are subject to the discipline of
Government or are associated with other members of the staff of the college concerned ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I
want notice.
Dr.
Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad :
Are the Government aware of this fact that these experts who are associated with
Engineering Colleges do not consider themselves to belong to the staff of the Engineering
College and they do not consider that they are subject to the discipline to which members
of the staff are subjected; are the Government aware of the fact that they spend a good
deal of time in inspecting other institutions and they consider the teaching job to be
unattractive, and they have no heart in their teaching work ?
The
Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I
will enquire into what my Honourable friend has said.
191
[f.12]
Strike in the Government of India Press
230.
Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : (a) Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state if it
is or it is not a fact that as a result of great discontent among the employees of the
Government Press, a strike look place on the 1st December, 1942, which was pacified by the
visits of the Labour Secretary and the Labour Welfare Officer, to whom the major
grievances were given by the workers ?
(b)
What has been done by Government to remove their grievances especially about the following
:
(i)
the grant of dearness allowance to the Press employees on the lines of Railway rates;
(ii)
the grant of casual leave to all the industrial employees; (iii) the levy of a uniform
rate of five per cent house-rent on all the employees, irrespective of their date of
occupation of Press quarters;
(iv)
the revision of the numerous existing grades of pay of the employees of the Binding Branch
into one time-scale of pay, so as to afford a living wage; and