The Ambedkar We Don’t Know

The Indian Express     14th April 2021     Save    
QEP Pocket Notes

Context: To grasp the gravity of Ambedkar’s ideas, it is important to understand how he worked to strengthen India’s social fabric and build a just society and stronger nation.

Role of Ambedkar in building the strong nation and strengthening the social fabric:

  • Pioneer as an institution builder:
    • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), conceptualized from the Hilton Young Commission’s recommendation, considered Ambedkar’s guidelines in The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution.
    • Establishing The Central Water Commission (CWC): As a labour member in Viceroy’s Executive Council (1942-46), he evolved numerous policies in the water, power and labour welfare sectors.
      • The Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956, and the River Board Act, 1956 emanate from his vision.
  • Voice of the Depressed Classes: As the representative of depressed classes at the Round Table Conference, he championed the cause of labour and improving the condition of peasants.
    • Improved the state of Peasants:
      • Bill to abolish the Khoti system of land tenure in Konkan: Introduced during the Bombay Assembly’s Poona session in 1937
      • He was the first legislator in the country to introduce a bill for abolishing the serfdom of agricultural tenants.
      • His essay titled ‘Small Holdings in India and their Remedies’ (1918) proposed industrialization as the answer to India’s agricultural problem, which is still relevant.
    • Laid out the basic structure of the labour policy:
      • Ambedkar opposed the introduction of the Industrial Disputes Bill, 1937, as it removed workers’ right to strike.
      • As a labour member, he advocated for “fair condition of life of labour” instead of securing “fair condition of work.”
      • He contributed to the reduction of working hours to 48 hours/week, lifting the ban on the employment of women in coal mines, introduced the provisions of overtime, paid leave, and minimum wage.
      • Helped to establish the principle of “equal pay for equal work” irrespective of sex and maternity benefits.
      • He outrightly opposed the communist labour movements, their extraterritorial loyalties, and their Marxian approach of controlling all means of production.
  • Society through liberty, equality, and fraternity: As chairman of the Constitution’s drafting committee:
    • Advocated for universal adult franchise ensured that women had the right to vote immediately after Independence.
    • Advocated the Hindu Code Bill as a revolutionary measure towards ameliorating women’s plight by conferring on them the right to adopt and inherit.
    • Contributed to developing federal finance.

Way forward: Ensuring the legacy of Ambedkar -

  • The development of Panchteerth — Janam Bhumi (Mhow), Shiksha Bhumi (London), Chaitya Bhumi (Mumbai), Diksha Bhumi (Nagpur), Mahaparinirvan Bhumi (Delhi) in honour of B R Ambedkar.
  • The successful implementation of the Mudra Scheme for availing loans, Stand-up India for promoting entrepreneurship in the SC and ST community, the expansion of the merit-cum-means scholarship, the Ayushman Bharat scheme, PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna, Saubhagya Yojana, the simplification of labour laws are among the several measures.
QEP Pocket Notes