1010 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
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*ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HINDU CODE BILL
1352. Shrimati Ammu Swaminadhan: Will the Minister of Law be pleased to state whether any representatives of women’s Organisations have been taken or are proposed to be taken on the non-official Advisory Committee to advise on the Hindu Code Bill ?
The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar) : I take it that the reference is to the informal Conference proposed to be held for the ascertainment of representative public opinion both in and outside Parliament, on the Hindu Code Bill, in accordance with the announcement made by the Hon. the Prime Minister on the floor of the House on 19th December
1949 during the discussion on the Bill. It is the intention of Government to make the Conference as representative in character, as possible and the Conference will certainly include representatives of women’s organisations.
Shrimati Ammu Swaminadhan : In view of the fact that the Hindu Code affects the women of the country more than the men (Laughter), Sir, I would like to ask for your protection in this matter. Every time that any question of women’s rights comes up in that House, there is general laughter, as if it is a joke. I do not mean it as a joke. I would like the Hon. the Law Minister to tell us whether in view of the fact that the Hindu Code really affects women very largely and there are several women’s organisations in India, they have been asked to send representatives to this Advisory Committee that is going to be called very soon.
Dr. Ambedkar : That is what the answer says.
Shrimati Ammu Swaminadhan : May I ask him for the names of the women’s organisations from which he has invited representatives to come to this Advisory Committee ?
Dr. Ambedkar : I am afraid I do not carry the names in my head but my intention was really to call women’s organisations which were, so far as our information went, not very favourable to the Code.
- P. D., Vol. 1, Part I, 3rd April 1950, p. 1267.