588 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
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*** Monopoly of Export of Mica to** the Joint Mica Mission and Metal Reserve Company of the United States of America
104. Babu Baijnath Bajoria : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether it is a fact that export of Mica is allowed only when effected by the Joint Mica Mission and Metal Reserve Company of the United Slates of America and none else is allowed to export Mica to any country outside India ?
(b) If the answer to part (a) be in the affirmative, for what reasons and on what conditions has such a monopoly of export of Mica been granted to the above mentioned foreign interest ?
(c) Is the Honourable Member aware that such restrictions of export have resulted in these concerns securing Mica in India at much lower rates and making enormous profits for themselves by selling at much higher rates in America and other allied countries ?
(d) Are these concerns Government concerns or private companies ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No.
(b) Does not arise.
(c) The prices at which the Joint Mica Mission secures mica have been fixed with the prior approval of the Government of India. The prices are in the opinion of the Government of India fair and reasonable. The prices offered by the Mission are almost invariably higher than or equal to the standard prices ruling before the Mission began to operate. Furthermore the Mission is prepared to buy all mica of merchantable quality which is offered to it. This covers practically the whole range of useful mica and may include mica which would previously not have found a market at all. The Metals Reserve
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 16th February 1943, pp.
281-82.