844 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
subsistence. Now, all these reliefs which have been provided for by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget beyond question have the effect of increasing the purchasing power of the consumer. If there is so much increase in the purchasing power of the consuming community, it matters very little if the subsidy has been reduced by £167 million.
What are the reliefs that our Hon. Friend the Finance Minister has provided for in his Budget ? Nothing. The level of taxation, whether of direct or indirect character, is just the same. The purchasing power of the people remains where it was. In addition to that, he is now increasing the cost of food. This I find to be a fundamental difference in the approach of the Hon. Finance Minister to the problems of the people and that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I think my Hon. friend the Finance Minister may well consider whether he might not copy something from what the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to do in England for increasing the welfare of the people.
Now, Sir, I have not been able to exactly understand what position the Hon. Finance Minister proposes to take.
9-00 A . M . But I want to put it in the best light because I know he is an honest person with the greatest good of the people at his heart. What is he trying to do ? So far as I have been able to understand the policy of the Government of India with regard to food, I do not think that the Hon. Finance Minister is opposed to subsidy. If I put his position correctly as I understand it, he is in favour of subsidy, but his position seems to be that the subsidy instead of being granted to the consumer ought to be granted to the producer, either in the form of grow more food grants or in some other way. His object, logically speaking—I do not find any difficulty in accepting its validity—is that if you produce more food in the country, prices will fall, consumers will benefit and subsidy to the consumer may then not be necessary. I believe that I have stated his position somewhat correctly if I have understood it. He wants subsidy, but he wants it to be given to the producer and not to the consumer.