6

Removal of controls

On 18 August 1952, a resolution regarding the Removal of Controls was moved by, Shri Ambalal C. Shah (Dabhoi), requesting the State Government to move the Government of India to reconsider its policy of controls with regard to foodgrains and other articles of consumption, by allowing their sale in the free market.

The question of partial decontrol was discussed for nearly two days in the Bombay Assembly. on 18 and 22 August 1952.

Replying* to the debate, Shri Chavan, Minister for Civil Supplies, explained the policy of the State Government on the question of food on 22 August 1952. Stating that the procurement in the State depended on the rabi crop, he said that the Government would think over all the arguments that were made on the policy about controls in the House.
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Mr Speaker, Sir, we have discussed this question of partial decontrol for nearly two days now and all the possible arguments in favour of control and decontrol have been advanced on the floor of this House. Sir, this is the third occasion when I am called upon to speak on the policy of the Government on the question of food in this State in the last three months, and I may be excused if I do not speak in detail regarding every argument that has been advanced in this debate. I do not want to anticipate the conditions that would prevail in the month of November because it is the intention of the Government to decide on a definite policy regarding this very controversial issue of control and decontrol in the month of November. We must remember that much depends on the monsoon. I may tell those who clamour for decontrol that we had a shortage of 2 inches of rain in last October which completely changed the whole picture, and practically more than half-a-dozen districts had to be declared famine areas and some as scarcity areas. This year we can be glad that the rains have obliged us so far and let us expect more from it in the days to come. May I remind the hon. Members of this House that procurement in this State mostly depends upon the rabi crop. That will show its sign probably in the month of November and so we shall decide on our policy about controls in the month of November.

*BLA Debates, Vol. 22, Part II, July-August 1952, 22 August 1952, pp. 2619-22.

Before deciding on our policy, certain questions will have to be considered carefully. Some hon. Members made a mention of the visit of the hon. Shri Kidwai to Poona. The hon. Members must be aware that they have had occasion to know Shri Kidwai’s mind on the question of an all-India policy. Sir, the success of a policy of decontrol, if at all decontrol is to come in this State, depends upon many basic conditions. May I ask the hon. Members to go back to 1943 and consider the conditions then prevailing? I would further ask them to consider whether those basic conditions have changed. I can see from the speeches made in this House that there is an overwhelming number of Members in this House who are in favour of partial decontrol. I may assure them that I have made a note of their feelings, but I must remind them that the basic conditions which prevailed in 1943-44 have not changed. I am glad that the hon. Members of this House are quite aware of this reality. Most of them have admitted that this State is a deficit State. Most of them have also admitted that complete decontrol is not likely to be successful in this State. I may tell them that I am one with them on this point.