PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 891
Mr. Chairman: It is getting time.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I have just a few things to say ...........
Mr. Chairman: Yes, as briefly as possible.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Thank you, Sir. It is very difficult to understand on what ground these two areas of Part B and Part C States could be excluded from the operation of this Award. Now, Sir, what does this mean ? It means that the lowest scale which the Government has laid down for class IV area, namely, a minimum salary of Rs. 51, is not to be operative in Part B and Part C States, that is to say, the employees have been left at the mercy of the employer.
They may pay them any wages they like. May be that banking is necessary and that banks should make profits. That also be a reasonable thing, but should we allow this kind of exploitation, complete exploitation ? No minimum standards have been fixed at all. It seems to me completely inexplicable and un-understandable.
Now, again, the fourth modification made by the Government in respect of the exemption of the United Bank of India is also a very extraordinary thing. So far as I have been able to gather any information about this particular institution, originally there were four banks started by the refugees in Calcutta to help themselves, I believe, and to carry on the business of banking.
The Deputy Minister for Finance (Shri A. C. Guha) : I am afraid the lion. Member is not quite correct. The banks were there long before the partition. Only, they were amalgamated into one bank after the partition.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I am very glad to hear that. That supports me much more. I was taking a broken reed for my stand. I take it that this is a long-standing institution, but they were amalgamated.
Shri A. C. Guha: May be long-standing but may not be sound-standing.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: This bank, according to the information I have, has a working capital of Rs. 33 crores.