Petitions
South Kanara District Council
17 April 1948.
The South Kanara District Council of the All-India Manufacturers’ Organisation, based in Manipal, wrote to the Secretary of the Constituent Assembly on 17 April 1948. The letter forwarded a resolution passed at a Council meeting the previous day, and confirmed that its contents had already been wired to the Assembly by telegram.
The Council endorsed the parent body’s representation to the Constituent Assembly for special representation of industrial interests in the legislatures. Industry, it argued, formed a specialised class in the economy, and with the country now committed to rapid industrialisation, legislatures would need the assistance of people with industrial expertise. The Council was firm that such representation should be by election through an electoral college of industrial organisations, not by nomination.
The document is brief, consisting of the resolution text and a short covering note. It is one of several petitions from commercial and industrial bodies to the Constituent Assembly seeking guaranteed seats for organised business in the new legislatures.
The All-India Manufacturers’ Organisation
South Kanara District Council
MANIPAL
17th April, 1948
The Secretary,
Constituent Assembly,
NEW DELHI.
Sir,
We confirm having wired to you to-day as under: –
“This Council fully agrees with the All India Manufacturers’ Organization suggestion for special representation for industrial interests in the legislatures and that such representation be by election by an electoral college consisting of various industrial organisations and not by nomination.”
We reproduce below the full text of the resolution passed at the meeting of The Council on 16-4-1948.
” The South Kanara District Council is in agreement with the views expressed by the A.I.M.O. in their representation to the Constituent Assembly for special representation for industrial interests. They are strongly of the opinion that it is necessary to provide this representation as industry forms a specialized class in the economy of the country and support strongly the suggestion made by the parent body that such representation should be by election by an electoral college representing various industrial bodies in the country and not by nomination. The Secretary is hereby authorised to communicate this resolution by telegram to the Constituent Assembly.”
P.T.O.
The country is now committed to a programme of rapid industrialization and this implies that all attempts must be made to exploit fully and effectively our vast human talents and resources. In such a vast undertaking difficulties are bound to crop up at every stage and it is essential that in handling such problems the legislatures must have the assistance of industrial interests of the country. We believe that the method of representation outlined above will be most efficient and effective.
Yours faithfully,
[secretary]
HON. JT. SECRETARY.
(Note: Typographical errors in the original document have been retained to ensure authentic reproduction of the original document.)