z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-07.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 576
576 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
should be applied to the Depressed Classes.
Chairman: We have got that already.
Mr. Foot: Otherwise you would put an addendum to each paragraph.
Chairman: We cannot have that every time.
Mr. Jadhav: Brahmins and non-Brahmins and different communities in Bombay, Depressed Classes and all should be added.
Chairman: We cannot go into that.
(Dr. Ambedkar insists for recording his dissent from para. 13.)
† Mr. Foot: There is only one point In view of the general objection based upon the claim for adult suffrage, need you have a note following each paragraph ? Would not there be a general note at the end embodying the objection taken by Mr. Joshi and his colleagues ?
Chairman: I think that would be better for you, I quite understand your position.
Dr. Ambedkar: I leave it to you.
Chairman: If I may say so, I think it might make you appear 10 be in rather a false position if, for instance, you appeared to be objecting to the women’s vote.
Dr. Ambedkar: We have very good ground for doing that. We are quite prepared, in our minds, and we can meet whatever objection may be raised on that ground. We have no theoretical objection to women.
Mr. Jadhav: The maximum of 25 per cent will be taken up by women, and then there will be no necessity of any other lowering of the franchise.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CONFERENCE
‡Summary of the Report submitted by Sub-Committee No. VI (Franchise)—16th January 1931
(Some of the paragraphs related to Dr. Ambedkar’s proposals)
The Sub-Committee recommended vide:
Para. 4: (1) that an expert Franchise Commission should be appointed with instructions to provide for the immediate increase of the electorate so as to enfranchise not less than 10 per cent of the total population and indeed a larger number—but not more than 25 per cent of the total population—if that should, on a full investigation, be found practicable and desirable,
(2) that in addition to providing for this increase, the commission should consider the introduction of a scheme by which all adults not entitled to a direct vote would be grouped together in primary groups of
† Proceedings of the Sub-Committee No. VI (Franchise), pp. 175-76. ‡ Ibid., pp. 178-79.