564 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The costs of living have not risen at the same rates throughout India ; there are reliable cost of living indices only for a few large towns ; the rates of wages even at one centre differ considerably for different classes of employees, and the movements in the rates of wages have been uneven at the same place and as between different places. In view of these factors, it is not possible to give a reply to the question as put by the Honourable Member. If he desires information regarding any specific class of employees at a place where there is a reliable cost of living index, I shall attempt to furnish it.
(b) No. I believe that the dearness allowance meets full the increased cost of living in the lower grades though to a diminishing extent in the higher grades.
(c) Does not arise; but I would add that recently the dearness allowance was enhanced by a considerable extent, in negotiation with the All India Railwaymen’s Federation and there is no justification for a further revision at present.
(d) Grain shops have been and are being opened by a number of railways when the administration considered it necessary to do so. Commodities supplied in these shops are sold at prices not exceeding the control prices fixed by Provincial governments. It is proposed to run these shops during the war as long as the necessity for them exists. No cloth shops have yet been opened on the Railways.
(e) There is no known basis for making such a wide comparison; each factory employs specialised labour and comparison is difficult.
Mr. Muhammad Nauman : May I know from the Honourable Member whether it is the contention of government that there has been no rise in price since 1939 ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : That is not the contention of the Government. All that the Government say is that there is no uniformity in rise.
Mr. Muhammad Nauman : There is some uniformity taking the minimum. Are the Government not prepared to accept the minimum rise in all commodities, which is above 50 per cent ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am prepared to say that there is rise, but I cannot say that the percentage is as high as the Honourable Member suggests.