“Saviour Of Labour Rights in India” -- Revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Broaden Your Knowledge.

Labour Rights, Labour or May Day and Dr. Ambedkar

                      
It is a very tremendous happy for me because my six compiled unknown articles about Revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has reached many people in social media like Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp. Most of the facts about Babasaheb are unknown to the common people, even well educated also. I can proudly say here, after my article I found many changes in the Wikipedia page of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. I feel this as my great respect to Dr. Babasaheb and shut the mouths of half-baked fellows, who always keep shouting against him and branded him as a leader of some section. Thank you all for supporting…!!!

If there any person who secured the rights of Labour's in India, the person was none other than “Founding Father of Modern India”  Revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Of course today there are thousands of labour leaders in India. But without Babasaheb at least whatever so today the rights secured by the Labours in India would be only question mark. If Dr. Babasaheb had born in any other nation, then concerned nation would have taken pride on him and would have provided countless awards for his contribution in the various field to the nation. He is one of the persons in India with multi-dimensional. After all he was born in ‘India’. So, we can not expect anything from here.
Anyway as an Indian and a youth of this nation, I am very proud to share about what Babasaheb did to the Labourers as a Labour leader and as the Labour Member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council between 1942 and 1946. He sworn as the Labour Member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council in July 20th, 1942. Be Patience and read the whole article. 1) Reduction in Factory Working Hours (8 hours duty):

Today the working hours per day in India is about 8 hours. Really I do not know how many Indians know that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was the Saviour of Labour's who brought '8 hours working' in India. He successfully changed the working time from 12 hours a day to 8 hours, and became a light for workers in India. He brought it on the 7th session of Indian Labour Conference in New Delhi, November 27, 1942. The Indian Labour Conference, consisting of the representatives of Central and Provincial Governments, important states and employers and workers organisations unanimously supported the principle of the 48-hour week in India's factories at its meeting.

The Text of speech of Dr. Babasaheb, "It emphasised that the present was an opportune moment for taking up this question because there was a need for giving relief to factory workers. Moreover, shorter hours would lead to greater employment. The memorandum made it clear that the reduction in hours should not be accompanied by any reduction in basic wages or dearness allowances unless there was a fall in prices"

May Day and Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar

                  
2) Tripartite Labour Conference:
On August 7, 1942 he called for the Tripartite Labour Conference in New Delhi. The objects were namely, the laying down of a procedure for the settlement of industrial disputes and the discussion of all matters of All-India importance as between Labour and Capital. The great achievement of the Tripartite Conference is the fundamental change it has brought about in the outlook of Government and of Employers and of Employees on labour problems, Establishment of Employment Exchanges, and Collection of Statistics under the Industrial Statistics Act.
The Text of speech of Dr. Babasaheb,"I do claim credit for the Tripartite Labour Conference, that, if we have done nothing more, we have at least done one thing, namely, to induce, if not to compel, the representatives of employees to meet the representatives of employers and discuss matters of the utmost and gravest importance." 3) Industrial Disputes: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was instrumental in setting up the two bodies 1) Plenary Conference and 2) Standing Advisory Committee to discuss the industrial problems of Labour Welfare both in their legislative and administrative aspects and also to advise the Government of India as to the most satisfactory line of action in dealing with those problems.
4) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar framed many laws for Women Labourers in India: 1. Mines Maternity Benefit Act, 2. Women Labour welfare fund, 3. Women and Child Labour Protection Act, 4. Maternity Benefit for women Labour, 5. Restoration of Ban on Employment of Women on Underground Work in Coal Mines,
6. Equal pay for equal work irrespective of the sex: On this regard he said, "We have also taken care to see, and this is an important point, that women shall be paid the same wages as men. It is for the first time that I think in any industry the principle has been established of equal pay for equal work irrespective of the sex."

5) Compulsory Recognition of Trade Unions: Indian Trade Unions Act was enacted in 1926. This act helped only to register the trade unions, not approved by the government. On 8 November, 1943 he brought the Indian Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill for compulsory recognition of trade unions. The Bill had three important features. They are to compel an employer to recognize a trade union, to imposes certain conditions on a trade union in order to make the trade union, to make non-recognition by an employer of a trade union, which has observed all the conditions prescribed in this measure and which has therefore qualified itself for recognition, an offence which is made punishable by law. 6) Employment Exchange in India:
Dr. Babasaheb was instrumental in bringing the establishment of employment exchanges. The Employment Exchanges was set up to helped the resettlement and employment of demobilized Services personnel and discharged war workers during the transition period. It also helped the mutual benefit to employers and employment-seekers and will ensure satisfactory distribution of manpower among various branches of production. 
7) Employees State Insurance (ESI): ESI helps the workers with medical care, medical leave, physically disabled during working injuries as compensation Insurance for providing various facilities. Babasaheb enacted and brought it for the benefit of workers. Actually India only brought ‘Insurance Act’ as the first nation among the South Asian countries. Credit goes to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for the ESI concept. 8 ) Finance Commission of Indian reports:
The original source of reference for all the Finance Commission of India reports in a way, are based on Dr. Babasaheb’s Ph.D thesis, "The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India", written in 1923. The man who started the provision for finance commission every 5 years in the Indian Constitution was none other than Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. 9) Reserve Bank of India: The Reserve Bank of India was conceptualized based on the guidelines presented by Dr. Babasaheb to the Hilton Young Commission in 1925. His Ph.D thesis, "The Problem of the Rupee- Its Problems and Its Solution” was the reference tool and guidelines for the RBI Act 1934. 

10) Minimum Wages:
For fixing minimum wages for labour, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was instrumental in drafting legislation on November 28, 1942.

11) Coal and Mica Mines Provident Fund:
* At the time, Coal Industry played a vital role in our country’s economy. Due to this, Dr.Babasaheb enacted the Coal Mines Safety (Stowing) Amendment Bill for the benefit of the workers on January 31st, 1944.
* On 8th April 1945, he brought the Mica Mines Labour Welfare Fund which helped the workers with housing, water supplies, education, entertainment, improvement of educational facilities and standards of living among the workers, including nutrition, amelioration of social conditions and the provision of recreation and transport facilities, the improvement of public health and sanitation, the prevention of disease, the provision of medical facilities.

12) Post-war Development of Electric Power in India: For the problems relating to the post-war development, Lord Linlithgow was set up the Reconstruction Committee of Council under the chairmanship of J. P. Srivastava. The Reconstruction Committee of Council was set up five different Reconstruction Committees. Among these committee, (Reconstruction Policy Committee) Public Works and Electric Power was under the chairmanship of Dr. Babasaheb. Problems relating to the post-war development of electric power in India were discussed by the Reconstruction Policy Committee. This Committee studied the problems connected with electric power and to make a recommendation as to the best way of solving them. 

Dr. Babasaheb emphasized that the country needed “cheap and abundant electricity”, without which no effort for industrialization could succeed and development of irrigation and electric power were essential to raise agricultural productivity. 

Dr. Babasaheb was instrumental in creating the department of power and advocated autonomous state electricity boards. He was also of the opinion that the central government should have the option to participate directly in the production and supply of electricity. In the early 1980s the concept of regional grids which was suggested by Dr. Babasaheb, was being extended to the creation of national 'Grid System'. His initiatives subsequently led to the creation of a Power Supply Department at the Centre.

On October 25, 1943 at New Delhi he said, "I emphasise these considerations because what India wants is an assured supply of power, cheap power and abundant power." He added electricity should be a purely provincial subject. Further, "I make a few observations pointing out the significance of and the ultimate objective that lies behind the need for electrical development in India ? It is necessary that those who are placed in charge of the subject should have the fullest realization of its significance and its objective. If you agree with me in this I will request you to ask yourselves the question, ' Why do we want cheap and abundant electricity in India ? ' The answer is that without cheap an abundant electricity no effort for the industrialization of India can succeed. This answer brings out only a part of the significance of the work this Committee has to undertake."

13) Indian Statistical Law: In 1942, Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar passed the Indian Statistical Act. Later D.K. Paisendry ( Former Deputy Principal, Information Officer, Government of India) said in his book, without Dr.Babasaheb’s Indian Statistical Act he could not formulated the Labor conditions , their wage rates, other Income , Inflation , debt , housing , employment , deposits and other funds , labour disputes.

14) Labour Welfare Funds: Dr.Babasaheb set up an Advisory Committee to advise on matters arising out of the Labour Welfare under B.P. Agarkar. Later he promulgated it on January, 1944.
15) Technical Training Scheme and Skilled Workers:
He was instrumental in set up the best Technical Training Scheme for Workers in India. On August 24, 1944 in Calcutta, " No plan for the future development of the country can be deemed to be complete which does not provide for technical and scientific training. This is the age of Machine and it is only those countries in which technical and scientific training has risen to the highest pitch that will survive in the struggle that will commence when the war is over, for maintaining decent standards of living for their people. The Technical Training Scheme not only maintained but extended all over the country and become a permanent part of the country's educational system".

16) Foundation for Water resources and Electricity development in India:
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar laid the foundation for water resources and electricity development, the two sectors which are so crucial for the development of India when he was Member, Labour, Irrigation and Electric Power Department in the Executive Council of the Viceroy during 1942- 1946. His major achievement was the establishment of two technical organizations, presently known as ‘Central Water Commission’ and ‘Central Electricity Authority’, that have contributed for the development of irrigation and power in the country. 

The proposal for creation of Central Irrigation, Waterways Advisory Board was approved by Babasaheb in September 1944. Subsequently, it became Central Waterways, Irrigation, and Navigation Commission (CWINC) and was approved by Dr.Babasaheb in April 1945. It became Central Water Power, Irrigation and Navigation Commission (CWPINC) on 16th January 1948 and subsequently it became Central Water and Power Commission (CWPC) in April 1951. It was bifurcated into Central Water Commission and Central Electricity Authority in October 1974.

He only created the Central Technical Power Board (CTPB) on 8th November 1944 for power system development, hydro power station sites, hydro-electric surveys, analysing problems of electricity generation and thermal power station investigation which was subsequently merged with CWPINC and became Central Water and Power Commission (CWPC) in April 1951.

He laid the foundation for the development of infrastructure in India such as electric power, irrigation, communication, roads and transport services and technical manpower were treated as prerequisites for industrial and agricultural development. He suggested interlinking of major south Indian rivers. He was man of Vision and foresight. While drafting the constitution of India, he has not put water resources and management entirely in the state list but he had concluded this subject under the provision of central control.

17) Instrumental in creating the Multi Purpose River Valley Projects and Large Dam Technologies in India:

Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar who was the Instrumental in creating the Multi Purpose River Valley Projects and Large Dam Technologies in India. If there any person who played the most central role in introducing large dam technologies and Multi Purpose Projects into India, the person was none other than Revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. According to Petty minded Indians, Babasaheb is mostly related only with two things. One is ‘Architect of Indian Constitution’ and other as the leader of some particular section. But “Founding Father of Modern India” who contributed in the various field to our nation is totally ignored and hiding.

Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar and Multipurpose River Valley projects in India

             
After all how many Indians know Dr.Babasaheb was instrumental in creating and outlined the projects like, 1) Damodar Valley project ( the first multipurpose river valley project in India ) in 1944 on the lines of Tennessee Valley Authority, 2) Bhakra-Nangal dam ( India's biggest multipurpose river valley project, Highest gravity dam in India ), 3) The Sone River Valley projects and 4) Hirakud dam ( Longest dam in India )

Babasaheb introduced the idea of establishment of Multipurpose river projects in India who was influenced on the lines of Tennessee Valley project. He was the 1st person in India has make effort for the establishment of Damodar Valley project. He was the pioneer of Multipurpose river projects in India. a) Damodar Valley project: Damodar valley is known as the 'Sorrow of Bengal' because of the problems of flooding. To tackle the problem Babasaheb had entrusted the work of planning and designing to Central Power Board set up the machinery and directed the planners, engineers who executed the plan prepared under his guidance. Till 1946, the responsibility for the Damodar Valley project was under Babasaheb. Afterwards the entire work for the dam was given over to Damodar Development Corporation.
Here I just extract the address speech of Babasaheb before the representatives of Bengal and Bihar Governments at a Conference held in Calcutta on January 3 , 1944 to discuss the means and methods for developing Damodar Valley as a Member, Labour, Irrigation and Electric Power Department in the Executive Council of the Viceroy. He said, "The Damodar project must be a multi-purpose project. We intend that it should not only deal with the problem caused by floods, it should also provide for irrigation, electricity and navigation. Along with the question of a site, these matters have also to be examined."
On April 23 and 24, 1945 at New Delhi under the Chairmanship of the Dr. Babasaheb, Rs. 55 crores was recommended to Damodar River Project for starting immediately the construction of the first dam (at Tilaiya). After considering the reports of the Central Technical Power Board and the advice of the Tennessee Valley Authority engineers, Ross Reigel and Fred C. Schlemmer, and their associates, Rai Bahadur A. N. Khosia and Mr. M. Narasimhaiya, Chief Engineer, Mysore State, the conference was convinced-of the advisability of pushing forward as rapidly as possible the scheme as a whole. It has accepted the proposal that the dams across the Barakar, tributary of the Damodar, should be at Tilaiya (near Kodarma) and at Maithon, just above its confluence with the main river.

b) Multi-purpose Plan for Development of Orissa's Rivers: In 1945, the plan outlined under the chairmanship of Dr.Babasaheb, it was decided to invest in the potential benefits of controlling Odisha rivers particularly Mahanadi for the multipurpose use to conserve water, serve irrigation, generating electric power etc., Mr.B.K. Gokhale, Adviser, the then H. E. to the Governor of Orissa, welcomed the plan outlined by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar to invest in the potential benefits of controlling Odisha rivers particularly Mahanadi for the multipurpose use to conserve water, serve irrigation, generating electric power etc., and said: " Orissa is perhaps the most backward part of India and no single project is likely to do more to improve the conditions of the people than the multipurpose development which we have under contemplation. He outlined the history of Orissa up to modern times. Orissa expected that the thought which had been given to planning and regional development would start her on an era of happiness and prosperity."

c) Bhakra Dam project: A major initiative was taken by Babasaheb when he was member in-charge of irrigation and power during 1942-46 to take concrete steps to see that the Bhakra Dam project should be taken up on priority. An expert from the United States Bureau of Reclamation in 1944 was invited, who after examining the feasibility report recommended that the dam site was suitable for the construction of a dam with maximum reservoir level at 487.68 m and suggested further exploration for foundation and abutments. This work was carried out during 1945-46, while Babasaheb was the Member of Irrigation of the Viceroy’s Council.
18) Dearness Allowance (DA) 19) Holidays with Pay for Factory Workers 20) Health Insurance for Industrial Workers 21) The Legal Strike. 22) Provident Fund Act. 23) Revision of Scale of Pay for Employees. Babasaheb believed that caste is not merely the division of labour but division of labourers based upon the graded inequality. Further in his work ‘Annihilation of Caste’, Babasaheb said, “ In no other country is the division of labour accompanied by this gradation of labourers. There is also a third point of criticism against this view of the Caste System. This division of labour is not spontaneous; it is not based on natural aptitudes. Social and individual efficiency requires us to develop the capacity of an individual to the point of competency to choose and to make his own career. This principle is violated in the Caste System in so far as it involves an attempt to appoint tasks to individuals in advance, selected not on the basis of trained original capacities, but on that of the social status of the parents. Looked at from another point of view this stratification of occupations which is the result of the Caste System is positively pernicious. Industry is never static. It undergoes rapid and abrupt changes. With such changes an individual must be free to change his occupation. Without such freedom to adjust himself to changing circumstances it would be impossible for him to gain his livelihood. Now the Caste System will not allow Hindus to take to occupations where they are wanted if they do not belong to them by heredity. If a Hindu is seen to starve rather than take to new occupations not assigned to his Caste, the reason is to be found in the Caste System. By not permitting readjustment of occupations, caste becomes a direct cause of much of the unemployment we see in the country. As a form of division of labour the Caste system suffers from another serious defect. The division of labour brought about by the Caste System is not a division based on choice. Individual sentiment, individual preference has no place in it. It is based on the dogma of predestination.”

The speech delivered by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Member for Labour, at the first session of the Plenary Labour Conference in New Delhi, Monday, September 6 1944: "It will not be enough to make industrial development of India as our goal. We shall have to agree that any such industrial development shall be maintained at a socially desirable level. It will not be enough to bend our energies for the production of more wealth in India. We shall have to agree not merely to recognise the basic right of all Indians to share in that wealth as a means for a decent and dignified existence but to devise ways and means to insure him against insecurity."

Ambeth,
Dharmapuri,
Tamil Nadu.
[30 April 2014]
Jai bheem..! Long Live Ambedkarism....!!

Labour Statue in Chennai

                Reference:

1. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches:
* Volume 10 - Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar as member of the Governor-General’s Executive Council (1942-1946).
* Volume 1 - Annihilation of Caste.
2. A Tamil article by Tamil Maraiyan.