PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 917
and years. At the same time, there is no reason why we should not strongly agitate for seeing, whether untouchability goes or not, that the social, economic, political and constitutional right of the Scheduled Castes are fully protected. To that extent efforts must necessarily be directed.
Sir, there is one other word I should like to say. People might say that I have taken most of the time with the Scheduled Castes. I have not said anything with regard to the tribes and I am not going to say anything, because there are many friends who are more qualified to speak about them than I am, I shall, therefore, not venture to enter that field, but there is one thing which, I think, one can say and should say, because I find there is a good deal of confusion in the minds of the people as regards the relative position of the Scheduled Castes, the tribal castes and the criminal tribes. Now, Sir, with regards to the Scheduled Castes, the position is this : they are prepared—in fact, not prepared—but they are already within the pale of civilization. They are not outside. Their struggle is to achieve equality of opportunity and equality of status. That is their problem. With regard to the tribal people, their problem is totally different. They are outside the Hindu civilization. And the question that has to be considered with regard to these tribal people is this ; do they want to come within the Hindu civilization and be assimilated and then acquire equality of status and equality of opportunity ? I was talking to many leaders of the tribal communities—many men and women of the tribal community— they seem to be most reluctant to come within the pale of Hindu civilization.
Dr. Shrimati Seeta Parmanand : Question.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : They prefer to live outside, they do not want to come in.
With regard to the criminal tribes, theirs is a purely economic problem : how well can you give them the opportunity to earn a decent living ? If they can get the opportunity to earn a decent living, they will cease to be criminals.
Now, Sir, one question asked is this. It seems to me a matter of great regret that the Hindu civilization which is so many