z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-06.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 432
432 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
“These figures speak for themselves. It is suggested that the one-fifth of the entire population of British India should be allotted seven seats out of practically 800. It is true that in all the Councils there will be roughly a onesixth proportion of officials who may be expected to bear in mind the interests of the depressed (?); but that arrangement is not, in our opinion, what the Report on Reforms aims at. The authors stated that the Depressed Classes should also learn the lesson of self-protection. It is surely fanciful to hope that this result can be expected from including a single member of the Community in an Assembly where there are 60 to 90 Caste-Hindus. To make good the principles of paragraphs 151, 152, 154 and 155 of the Report we must treat the out-castes more generously.....”
The Sabha feels happy that it is not alone in its opinion as to the injustice done to the Depressed Classes by the framers of the Reforms Scheme of 1919. This opinion was also shared by the Muddiman Committee which was appointed two years afterwards to report upon the possibility of improving and enlarging the scheme of Reforms. That Committee admitted in its Report (Paragraph 64) that the representation granted to the Depressed Classes under the Scheme was inadequate.
Extent of Representation that must be granted to the Depressed classes. — What then should be the extent of the representation of the Depressed Classes which can be said to be adequate ? In the opinion of the Sabha the following scheme for the composition of the Legislative Council of Bombay assuming that Sind will be separated from the Presidency may be deemed to satisfy the demand of the Depressed Classes for adequate representation :
Composition of the Bombay Legislative Council
FOR
I. BOMBAY PRESIDENCY WITHOUT SIND
Total Reserved Reserved for Reserved No. for the Marathas Constituencies for Mohaof Depressed and allied medans seats classes castes
I. GENERAL
( a ) U RBAN
Bombay City North .. 5 1 1
Bombay City South .. 3 .... ....
Ahmedabad City .. .. 3 1 1
Surat City .. .. 1 .... ....
Sholapur City .. .. 3 1 1
Poona .. .. 1 .... ....
( b ) R URAL ..
Northern Division ..
Ahmedabad District .. 5 1 1
Broach District .. .. 4 1 1
Kaira District .. .. 5 1 1
Panchmahals District .. 4 1 1
Surat District .. .. 5 1 1
Thana District .. .. 5 1 1