936 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
349
*** British-American Mica Mission**
- Mr. Ram Narayan Singh : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state at whose instance the present joint British American Mica Mission was instituted ?
(b) What is the respective strength of the British and American representatives on the said Mission ?
(c) What are the purposes and functions of the Mission ?
(d) Is it only a ware measure or is the Mission to permanently continue even after the war ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The Joint Mica Mission was set up as a result of discussions between the Government of India and His Majesty’s Government, and through His Majesty’s Government with the Government of the United States of America.
(b) Three British and three United States of America representatives.
(c) The Mission under instructions from their principals, are responsible for purchasing, inspecting, accepting, paying for and despatching all mica required by the United Nations.
(d) It is only a war measure.
Mr. Ram Narayan Singh : May I ask why the Government of India or the Mica industry have not been represented on the Mission ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is unnecessary; it is only a purchasing Mission.
Mr. N. M. Joshi : May I ask whether it is a fact that the mica is sold in America for a much higher price than the price paid to the mica owners in India and if there is a profit—and a large profit—, who takes that profit ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I must have notice of the question.
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@ Candidates from Hindu Backward Classes appointed as Labour Officers, etc.
- Mr. M. Ghiasuddin : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state if any labour Officer, Labour Inspector,
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1945, 9th April 1945, p. 2799.
@ Ibid., p. 2799.