174 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
(iii) Provision for election through separate electorates ;
(iv) Adequate representation in the Public Services ;
(v) Adequate representation on the Public Service Commission—Federal and Provincial;
(vi) Provision of adequate sum in the annual budgets of the Provincial and Central Government for the higher education of the Scheduled Castes ; and
(vii) Provision for new and separate settlements.
6. Without in any way minimising the importance and necessity of any of the foregoing safeguards, the Working Committee regards (1) the provision for separate electorates, (2) provision for adequate representation in the Legislature, in the Executive and in the Services and (3) provision for new and separate settlements, as the most fundamental.
7. As regards the provision for separate electorates, the Working Committee invites the attention of the Mission to the following facts :
(i) This demand is not a new demand. It was put forth at the Round Table Conference by the representatives of the Scheduled Castes.
(ii) Mr. Gandhi had strongly opposed it. But notwithstanding his opposition, His Majesty’s Government felt convince of the necessity of Separate Electorates for the Scheduled Castes, and by their Communal Award of 1932, did grant to the Scheduled Castes Separate Electorates.
(iii) Before the system of Separate Electorates could come into operation Mr. Gandhi declared that he would fast unto death if the Separate Electorates granted to the Scheduled Castes were not withdrawn and did actually enter upon such a fast. The Scheduled Castes under the pressure of Mr. Gandhi’s fast—untodeath were coerced into giving up their Separate Electorates.