z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-04.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 286
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 ?