822 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
in the province of Bihar in the matter of supplying rice to colliery labour ?
(b) Has the Honourable Member received any complaint that the Bihar authorities are charging some of the collieries prices for rice to be supplied to their labour force which are higher than the control prices and that the quality of rice supplies is also bad ? If so, what are the different points raised in these complaints, and what are the ascertained facts relating thereto ?
(c) How does the system in Bihar in the matter differ from the system introduced in the Bengal collieries ?
(d) What action do Government propose to take to remove the complaints made on behalf of a section of the Bihar collieries in this matter ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Under an order issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dhanbad, under the Defence of India Rules dated the 20th April 1944, every colliery worker is entitled to buy from the colliery shop at prices equal to the controlled prices fixed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, an amount of foodgrains not exceeding a total of four seers of foodgrains per week (of which not more than two seers shall be rice) for himself and each adult dependent, and two seers (of which not more than one seer shall be rice) for each minor dependent. In additional every heavy worker is entitled to half a seer of free ration in rice for each attendance; but miners who prefer may draw the whole or some part of the free ration in other grains.
(b) The reply to the first part is in the affirmative. The facts are that the Bihar Government have charged the Colliery Associations the actual cost of rice supplied up to the 1st November 1944. The bulk of these supplies originated in Nepal where the Bihar government had to purchase above their control rate. Consequently supplies of Nepal rice have been made to the Colliery Associations at approximately Rs. 1—8—0 above the local wholesale control rate. From the 1st November 1944, the Bihar Government have decided to charge the local wholesale control rate plus four annas administrative charge and to bear the resulting loss. The facts relating to the complaint regarding quality are being ascertain.