592 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
produce. The sale of mica to the United Nations has been canalised through the Joint Mica Mission because the United Nations including the Government of India consider that a single purchasing agency buying on the spot provides the quickest and easiest means of providing mica in the very large quantities now required by the United Nations.
(f) The United Nations already have considerable stocks of mica splittings and their principal requirements are now of block mica. Nevertheless the Mission continues to buy all mica which comes split from the mines. They will not however buy mica which is split from old dumps and such mica is no longer merchantable among the United Nations. Such mica can however be sold in neutral countries provided such sale does not conflict with any general orders issued by Government. Government are not aware that any factories have been closed, although possibly a number of home splitting centres may have been closed.
Babu Baijnath Bajoria : As regards part (a), again I repeat the question that there is a demand for Mica of other varieties in America and that is not being allowed to be exported.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I am not aware of that.
Babu Baijnath Bajoria : Will you make inquiries ? If there is a demand in the U.S.A. of the qualities which this Mission does not buy then private firms should be allowed to export those qualities to America.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I will make inquiries.
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*** Fixation of Prices of Grades of Mica by the** Joint Mica Mission
106. Babu Baijnath Bajoria : (a) Is the Honourable the Labour Member aware that the Joint Mica Mission fixes the prices of the various grades of Mica without any consultation with the representatives of the industry ?
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1943, 16th February 1943, p. 283.