The Labour-cum-Conciliation Officers, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur, also deal with the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.  Section 12(i) of the Act casts a duty upon them to take steps immediately when they apprehend and industrial dispute.  It requires them to move on their own to get the employer and the representative of workmen together.  They are empowered to inspect any document which they think necessary.  They have to see that the right settlement is arrived at between the parties amicably. In case they fail to settle the dispute, the matter is referred through the Government to the Labour Court, Jalandhar, or the Industrial Tribunal, Punjab Chandigarh.

           The salient features of the Central and State Labour Acts in force in the district are given below :-

 

           Central Legislation – The Factories Act, 1948 provides for health measures, safety from accidents, canteens, shelters , rest rooms, working hours, intervals for rest, leave with wages etc. The  Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, provides for dealing with industrial disputes through conciliation machinery, works committees, adjudication and arbitration.  The Payment of Wages Act, 1936, regulates he payment of wages o the workers employed in establishments covered under the Act.  The inspectorate staff is required to deal with complaints regarding none or less or delayed payments of wages.  The Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923, is intended to provide for the payment of certain classes of employers to their workmen of compensation for injury by accident.  The Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926, provides for registration of trade unions and certain rights and privileges to the registered trade unions.  It gives immunity from civil and criminal liability to trade union executives and members for bonafide trade union activities.  The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946, requires the employers, employing 100 or more employees, to define with sufficient precision the conditions of employment and to make the said conditions known to the workmen employed by them.  The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961, marks another milestone in the field of labour legislation as it seeks to regulate and ameliorate the condition of workers in the transport undertakings employing five of more workers.

           The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, contains provisions regarding the payment of bonus to the employees by the employer from his share of profits.  The Employment of Children Act, 1938, prohibits the employment of young children below the age of 15 years in certain risky and unhealthy occupations.  The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948, contemplates the provision of medical benefits and payment of sickness benefit to insured workers in case of sickness, indisposition, disability, etc.  The Employees Provident Fund Act, 1952, seeks to make a provision for the future of the industrial worker after he retires for his dependents in case of his early death.  The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, provides for the payment of maternity benefit to women workers for a period of 12 weeks.  The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, provides for a scheme for the payment of gratuity to employees engaged in factories, mines, ports, oilfields, plantations, railway companies, shops or other establishments and in the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.  For the administration of this Act, the Labour-cum-Conciliation Officers are the controlling authority.

           State Legislation. –The Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, regulates the working conditions, hours of work, rest interval and weekly rest as also holidays leave and overtime of workers employed in the shops and commercial establishments.  The Act also provides for opening and closing hours of establishments and entitling the employees to go to courts to get their grievances redressed.  The Punjab Labour Welfare Funds Act, 1965, provides for the setting up of a Labour Welfare Board and appointment of a Welfare Commissioner.  The unclaimed wages of the employees and accumulation of fines have to be credited to the Labour Welfare Fund, out of which the Board is to finance various welfare activities sponsored by the Board.  A Labour Welfare Board is already functioning in the State.  The Labour Commissioner, Punjab, Chandigarh, is the Welfare Commissioner under the Act.  The Punjab, Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays, Casual and Sick Leave) Act, 1965, provides for the grant of 7 days national and festival holidays, casual leave on full wages and 14 days sick leave on half wages to all the employees covered under the Act.

           In order to secure proper benefits under the Labour enactments, an adequate enforcement machinery works under the Labour Commissioner, Punjab, Chandigarh.  He is assisted at the district level, by Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer, Factory Inspectors, Labour Inspectors and other miscellaneous staff.

           Industrial Relations. –The industrial relations between the employees and employers and governed by the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.  The object of this Act is to maintain industrial harmony by proper adjustment of relations between labour class and capitalist class.  The industrial relations machinery set up under the Act, is of two types: one for the prevention of disputes by providing works committees within the industrial units, and the other for the industrial relations machinery outside the industry comprising conciliation officers, boards of conciliation, courts of enquiry, labour courts, industrial tribunals and national tribunals.

           Relations of employers and employees in the district have been more or less peaceful over the years.

 

           The Factories Act, 1948. –All the factories are required to be registered under the Factories Act, 1948.  It codified for the first time the old international principle that none should employ any worker or on any manufacturing process without ensuring his health, safety and welfare.  The, ct provides for health measures, safety from accidents, shelters, rest rooms, working hours, intervals for rest, leave with wages, etc.  With a view to ensuring the enforcement of these provisions, the inspectorate staff is required to carry out a minimum number of inspections every month in the specified proforma.  In case of minor violations, inspectorate staff issue warnings and notices to the management, whereas, in cases of serious or repeated violations, necessary prosecutions are launched against the defaulters in the courts of law.  In order to bring about an improvement in efficiency and quality of inspection work and tone up the administration, every month at least two test checks over the inspections conducted by the Labour Inspectors are carried out.

           In 1981, the number of working factories registered under the Act in the district was 246, and the average number of workers employed in these factories during the year was 11,294.

 

           Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme. –Compulsory provident fund has been introduced in certain specified industrial establishments under Employees’ Provident Funds and Family Pension Funds Act, 1952.  Every employee of an establishment to which the Employees’ Provident Fund scheme applies, is eligible for membership of the fund after completion of one year’s continuous service or 240 days of actual work during a period of twelve months.  Contribution at the rate of 6¼ per cent is dedicated from the basic pay, dearness allowance inclusive of cash value of food concessions, if any admissible and retaining allowance of employees who get pay up to Rs. 1,000 per month or less.  An amount equal to the worker’s contribution is contributed by the employer every month.  The entire amount is deposited in the State Bank of India in the employees, provident fund accounts.  Under the scheme, provision has been made for the grant of advances under certain conditions to the members for financing life insurance policies, construction of houses and to defray medical expenses, from their share of contributions to the fund.

           The number of factories/establishments covered under the Act in the Kapurthala District as on 31 March 1982, was 169 and the total number of subscribers to the scheme was 15,681.

           For the execution of this scheme, the Regional Commissioner, Chandigarh, is incharge of the States of Punjab, Haryana, Himanchal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.  He is assisted by a number of Inspectors in the field who execute government policies.

           Employees’ State Insurance Scheme. –The Employees’ State Insurance Scheme is an integrated measure of social insurance embodied in the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948.  The Act provides protection to employees working in factories using power, and employing 10 or more persons, and establishments/shops not using power and employing 20 or more persons.

           The employee who is covered under the scheme is entitled to get free medical care on the same day he enters into insurable employment.  His family members are also entitled to get free medical care as explained under the Act.  Periodical payments are also made to an insured person in case of his sickness certified by a duly appointed medical officer.  Insured women are entitled to get periodical payments in case of confinement, miscarriage or sickness arising out of confinement, premature birth of child or miscarriage.

           In addition to above, extended sickness benefit is admissible in certain long-term diseases after an insured person exhausts his title to normal sickness benefit of 56 days.  Further if an employment injury results in permanent disablement, the insured person is entitled to permanent disablement benefit proportionate to the loss of his earning capacity as assessed by a medical board.  Dentures, spectacles and hearing aids are given to an insured person where loss of teeth, impairment of eye-sight or loss of hearing, respectively, are due to employment injury.

           Where the insured person dies as a result of employment injury, his dependents are entitled to get periodical payment in the shape of pension.

           The Act also provides funeral benefit which is payable to the eldest surviving member of the family of the deceased insured person to meet out the expenditure on the funeral of the deceased insured person.  Where the insured person does not leave behind a family at the time of his death, the benefit is payable to the person who actually incurs the expenditure on the funeral of the deceased insured person.

           The Employees’ State Insurance Scheme is administered by a corporate body called the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation which has its headquarters at New Delhi.  It is under the administrative control of the Director General, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, New Delhi.  The scheme is executed in the State through the Regional Director, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, Chandigarh, who inspects factories, collects contributions and arranges payment of cash benefits.  The scheme is financed mainly by contributions from employers and employees, with the State Government sharing a part of the cost of medical care.

           The Employees’ State Insurance Scheme was implemented in the Kapurthala District in 1969.  Up to 31 March 1982, it covered 13,850 employees in the district.

           Subsidized Industrial Housing Scheme. –Under the scheme, 100 houses were constructed by the Government for workers at Phagwara, in 1969.  All these houses have been sold on hire-purchase basis.  The two factories at Phagwara, viz. Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills Ltd., and the Jagatjit Sugar Mills Co. Ltd., have constructed 850 and 169 houses, respectively, for the benefit of their workers.

           There are two labour welfare centers functioning, one each at Kapurthala and Phagwara, in the district, which were opened in 1970 and 1955, respectively.

 

(b)       Prohibition

           The being a State subject, a balanced policy is followed so as to ensure supply of liquor of good quality to the public at reasonable prices.  As on 31 March 1982, there were 50 country-liquor vends and 15 foreign-liquor vends in the district.

           The consumption of excisable articles in the district, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, is given in the following table: -

Year

Country Spirit

 (Proof Liters)

Foreign Spirit

(Proof Litres)

Wine and Beer (Bulk Litres)

Opium (Kgs)

Bhang (Kgs)

1977-78

2,68,416

1,01,395

1,35,923

1.374

-

1978-79

3,41,303

92,860

2,09,045

  1

-

1979-80

3,62,080

98,398

2,70,624

0.500

-

1980-81

3,20,255

3,19,287

2,96,521

  2

-

1981-82

10,09,147

12,52,348

6,40,950

-

-

(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab, 1978 to 1982)

 

           The Kapurthala District falls under the jurisdiction of Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Jalandhar.  The Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Kapurthala administers the Excise and Opium Acts in the district.  He is assisted by one Excise and Taxation Officer, 5 Excise Inspectors, besides other miscellaneous staff.

 

           The number of cases detected under these Acts in the district during 1977-78 to 1981-82, is given below:

 

Year

Number of cases Detected

Excise

Act

Opium

Act

Total

1977-78

678

41

719

1978-79

699

33

732

1979-80

774

42

816

1980-81

904

76

980

1981-82

988

        101

      1,089

(Source:  Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Kapurthala)

 

(c)       Advancement of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes

           The Government attaches much importance to the need for improvement of general standard of living of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes and has, therefore, pursued programmes for improving their social, economic and educational conditions.  So far as economic development of these classes is concerned, the Government has sponsored various schemes after the Independence of the country in 1947.  There are no persons belonging to the Scheduled Tribes in the Punjab.

 

Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes:

           According to the 1981 Census, the number of Scheduled Castes persons rose to 147,151 (77,898 males and 69,253 females) in 1981 from 106,201 persons (56,693 males and 49,508 females) in 1971, forming 26.99 per cent of the total population of the district in 1981 as against 24.7 per cent in 1971.

           The names of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes inhabiting the Kapurthala District, and their main professions, are given in the Appendix at the end of this chapter at pages 303-304.

 

Measures adopted for betterment of the Scheduled Castes and

Backward Classes:

           Right from the commencement of the First Five-Year Plan (1951-56), as per the general policy of the Government, efforts have been made for improving the economic and social conditions of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.  The Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, Punjab, Chandigarh, is responsible for implementing the various schemes of the State Government as well as the schemes sponsored by the Government of India for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes in the State.  There are various welfare programmes administered by this Directorate for the betterment of these classes.

           Under Article 330 and 322 of the Constitution, provision has been made for the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and among others, in the Parliament as also in the State Legislatures on population basis.  The reservation was for a period of 10 years, i.e. up to 1960.  The period has further been extended up to 1990.  In order to provide employment to educated boys and girls of these castes, 25 per cent vacancies have been reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 5 per cent for the Backward Classes in all government departments and establishments.

           The District Welfare Officer, Kapurthala, looks after the uplift and advancement of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes at the district level.  He is assisted by 3 Tahsil Welfare Officers, posted one each at the tahsil headquarters, viz. Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi and Phagwara.  He is also assisted by 5 Lady Social Workers, 5 Lady Attendants, 1 Accountant, besides other miscellaneous staff.

           The schemes implemented for the uplift of the Scheduled Castes, Vimukt Jatis and Backward Classes are as follows:

 

I.        Social Welfare Schemes

           The State Social Welfare Department has implemented the following schemes for the benefit of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes: -

 

           Subsidy for the Construction of New Houses for Scheduled Castes and Vimukt Jatis. –Under this scheme, which was started in 1955-56, subsidies are given for the construction of new houses to members of the Scheduled Castes who are unable to build better houses due to their poverty.  The houses subsidized under the scheme are constructed in the form of colonies.  A sum of Rs 900 each is granted as housing subsidy for the building of a small house, Unskilled labour sites are provided by the beneficiaries themselves.

           Heretofore, this scheme was a centrally sponsored one.  Since no provision was made by the Government of India during the year 1974-75, the State Government included this scheme in State sector in 1975-76.

           The amount of subsidies granted and the number of beneficiaries under the scheme in the district, during 1977-78 to 1981-82 are given below:

 

Year

Amount disbursed
(Rs)

No. of beneficiaries

1977-78

2,30,000

117

1978-79

2,86,000

143

1979-80

2,90,000

148

1980-81

2,90,000

145

1981-82

2,68,000

134

(Source:  District Welfare Officer, Kapurthala)

 

           Subsidy for the Purchase of Agricultural Land. –In order to help the needy, poor and deserving landless members of these classes, subsidy at the rate of Rs. 5,000 for the purchase of agricultural and Rs. 1,000 for the construction of house well is granted to the deserving landless persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes.  Besides, an amount of Rs. 180 is also given as subsidy for meeting stamp duty charges.  The persons who are selected for the grant of subsidy for the purchase of land under this scheme are required to settle at the places where land is purchased for them.

 

           The scheme was introduced in 1956-57.  The amount of subsidies and the number of beneficiaries, i.e. persons settled on land under the scheme in the district, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, are given below:

Year

Amount disbursed
(Rs)

No. of beneficiaries

1977-78

24,720

4

1978-79

43,200

7

1979-80

18,540

3

1980-81

61,800

        10

1981-82

30,900

5

(Source:  District Welfare Officer, Kapurthala)

           Drinking Water Facilities. –Under the scheme, which was started in 1955-56, a subsidy for the construction/sinking of wells and repairs of old ones and installation hand-pumps is given to members of the Scheduled Castes.

           The amount of subsidy given and the number of wells sunk/repaired and hand-pumps installed in the district, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, are given hereunder:

Year

Amount disbursed
(Rs)

No. of beneficiaries

1977-78

51.000

        101

1978-79

25,950

52

1979-80

20,000

42

1980-81

20,400

40

1981-82

30,000

47

(Source:  District Welfare Officer, Kapurthala)

 

           Construction of Dharamsalas/Chaupals. –This scheme was started in 1969-70 for the construction of dharamsalas/Chdupals in rural area of the State.  Under this scheme, a sum of Rs 7,000 for the construction of new dharamsalas/chaupal and Rs 2,000 for the repair of an old kutcha dharamsala is granted as subsidy where there are needed by members of the Scheduled Castes.  The aim of this scheme is to provide accommodation to members of Scheduled Castes for the solemnization of marriages and conducting social functions.

           The amount disbursed under the scheme and the number of dharamsalas constructed in the district, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, are given hereunder:

Year

Amount disbursed
(Rs)

No. of beneficiaries

1977-78

   98,000

16

1978-79

2,34,000

29

1979-80

3,02,000

67

1980-81

2,20,000

31

1981-82

1,22,000

34

(Source:  District Welfare Officer, Kapurthala)

           Environmental Improvement of Harijan Bastis. –The scheme was introduced by the State Government in 1972-73 with a view to improving the living conditions of members of the Scheduled Castes.  Under the scheme, grants are given to Harijans for the pavement of streets and construction of drains and for improving the stagnant and dirty ponds located within the vicinity of the bastis.

           The amount disbursed under the scheme and the number of bastis benefited in the district, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, are given hereunder:

Year

Amount disbursed
(Rs)

No. of beneficiaries

1977-78

5,37,310

3

1978-79

4,15,160

9

1979-80

4,32,832

7

1980-81

1,50,879

3

1981-82

4,58,234

5

(Source:  District Welfare Officer, Kapurthala)

 

           Manurel Pits. –The scheme was introduced in 1980-81. Under this scheme, one marla land free of cost is provided to a Scheduled Caste family who has no land for dumping the refuse.

           The amount disbursed under the scheme and the number of beneficiaries in the district, during 1980-81 to 1981-82, were as under:

Year

Amount disbursed
(Rs)

No. of beneficiaries

1980-81

1,19,075

  57

1981-82

1,47,335

160

(Source:  District Welfare Officer, Kapurthala)

           Coaching Centre for Competitive Examinations. –Since the representation of Scheduled Castes candidates in the I.A.S., I.P.S., Allied services, etc. is not adequate, a coaching center has been set up in the Punjabi University, Patiala to provide coaching to the candidates appearing in the competitive examinations for the higher posts.

           Special Employment Cell. –With a view to providing due representation in service to members of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes and to ensure employment to the educated and suitable unemployed persons of these castes and classes, the Punjab Government set up a Special Employment Cell in the Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes in 1970 NO vacancy or post which is reserved for members of the Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes can be filled or deserved without obtaining a non-availability certificate from this cell.  These classes also enjoy age-relaxation concessions in regard to recruitment to services.

 

           Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme. –It is centrally sponsored Scheme and is operated by the State Education Department.  Under this scheme, scholarships are given to the Scheduled Castes students at the college stage.  These are also given in the Government technical and professional institution.  These students are also allowed the refund of examination fee, if any, only once for each examination.

 

           Award of Scholarships and Reimbursement of Fees. –The students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes whole parents’ income is Rs 6,000 per annum or below are awarded stipends and reimbursed tuition fees under the State Harijan Welfare Scheme.  Scholarships and reimbursement of tuition fees is allowed to all the Scheduled Castes and Backward Class students for 9th, 10th, and 11th classes at the rate of Rs 10 per month for first and second divisioners and Rs 6 per month to others.  The Vimukt Jatis students are paid stipends from the first primary class.

II. Industrial Training Scheme

           The Industrial Training and Technical Education Department, Punjab, has sponsored various schemes for imparting training to members of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes in various engineering and non-engineering trades, apart from the general reservation for them in all other technical and industrial institutions.  The main object of this scheme is to increase the earning capacity of the underprivileged classes of society so that their standard of living can be raised.   Under it, stipends at the rate of Rs 45 per mensem are awarded to all the trainees belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Vimukt Jatis and Rs 35 per mensem to the students belonging to Backward Classes.  However, no such industrial training center, meant exclusively for Scheduled Castes etc., is functioning in the Kapurthala District.

           There is no representative institution of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes in the district.

 

 

(d)       Other Social Welfare Activities

           A number of social welfare schemes are being run by the Social Welfare Department, Punjab, for providing institutional and non-institutional services to the economically and socially weaker sections of the society.  Of these, the following may be mentioned:

 

           Old-Age Pension Scheme. –It is an important scheme, which aims at providing social security to the aged and destitutes in the State by way of pensions.  Under it, aged and infirm destitute persons above 65 years in case of men and above 60 years in case of women, with no means of livelihood and no earning son, are provided monetary assistance.  The scheme was originally started with effect from 1 January 1964 with a meager pension of Rs 15 per month per head, but with effect from 1 July 1968, the rate of pension was increased to Rs 25 per month per head.  The position was again reviewed by the Government and from 1 March 1973, the rate of pension was increased to Rs 50 per month per head.

           The amount disbursed under the scheme and the number of beneficiaries in the district, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, are given below:

Year

Amount disbursed

(Rs)

No. of

beneficiaries

1977-78

16,92,297

..

1978-79

21,25,892

..

1979-80

12,95,649

..

1980-81

11,83,447

4,261

1981-82

18,99,978

5,137

(Source:  Director, Social Welfare Department, Punjab Chandigarh and District Social Welfare Officer, Kapurthala)

 

           Financial Assistance to Widows and Destitute Women. –This scheme aims at providing relief to widows and destitute women below the age of 60 years.  It was introduced in January 1968 in the State.  Initially, the rate of financial assistance under the scheme was Rs 20 per month per head, but it was increased to Rs 50 per month per head with effect from March 1973.

           The amount disbursed under the scheme and the number of beneficiaries in the district, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, are given hereunder:

Year

Amount disbursed

(Rs)

No. of

beneficiaries

1977-78

3,49,118

..

1978-79

2,68,632

..

1979-80

5,26,369

..

1980-81

1,99,935

1,051

1981-82

6,99,851

1,084

(Source:  Director, Social Welfare Department, Punjab Chandigarh and District Social Welfare Officer, Kapurthala)

 

           Financial Assistance to Dependent Children.  –This scheme aims at providing relief to the children below the age of 16 years, whose parents have either died or have income below Rs 60 per month.  The initial rate of financial assistance of Rs 20 per month per child was raised to Rs 60 per month per child with effect from March 1974.

           The amount disbursed under the scheme and the number of beneficiaries in the district, during 1977-78 to 1981-82, are given below:]

Year

Amount disbursed

(Rs)

No. of

beneficiaries

1977-78

64,990

..

1978-79

60,255

..

1979-80

      1,12,109

..

1980-81

60,933

201

1981-82

      1,79,949

233

(Source:  Director, Social Welfare Department, Punjab Chandigarh and District Social Welfare Officer, Kapurthala)

 

 

(e)       Public Trusts, Charitable Endowments and Muslim Wakfs

           Many educational institutions, hospitals, dharamsalas and other similar social welfare institutions are run by these organizations with the funds donated by philanthropists.  In some cases, revenue- free lands are also attached to these organizations.

           The important public trusts, functioning in the district are given below:

           (1)       Montgomery Guru Nanak Educational Trust, Kapurthala. –This trust was founded in 1966 by Bhai Gobind Singh Pascricha to establish the education for public interest.  It runs Guru Nanak College of Education for Women at Kapurthala, which provides instructions for the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) Course.  The affairs of the trust are managed by two trustees.

           (2)       Guru Nanak Bibi Nanaki Chartable Trust, Sultanpur Lodhi. –It was founded in 1972 by Sant Baba Kartar Singh for the construction of buildings, opening an orphanage, helping the destitutes and widows, arranging free langar for the poor, and opening hostels and schools for lepers and orphans.  The trust has constructed Bibi Nanki Satsang Ghar at Sultanpur Lodhi.  The affairs of the trust are managed by five trustees.

           Muslim Wakfs. –There are 1,369 Muslim Wakfs at different places in the district with properties attached to some of them.  These properties were maintained by Custodian Department, Government of India, up to 1961, when their administration was entrusted to the Punjab Wakf Board, with head-quarters at Ambala Cantonment.  The administration of the Wakfs is regulated by the Central Wakf Act, 1954.

           The annual income from the wakf properties in the Kapurthala District is Rs 1,35,519.  It is spent for the upkeep of these institutions as well as for various charitable purposes and promotion of education, both religious and secular, of a particular community.

           The staff of the Wakf Board, posted in the district, comprised one Wakf officer posted at Kapurthala and tow Rent Collectors (one each at Kapurthala and Phagwara).

 

 

APPENDIX

 

Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Inhabiting the Kapurthala District

SN

Name of Caste

Main Professions

1

2

3

 

Scheduled Castes

1

Ad Dharmi

Shoe-making, agricultural labour, weaving and service

2

Balmiki, chura or Bhangi

Sweeping, agricultural labour and service

3

Dumma, Mahasha or Doom

Tokri-making

4

Kabirpanthi or Julaha

Weaving and agriculture

5

Khatik

Leather tanning and flaying of dead animals

6

Bauria or Bawaria

Agriculture and labour

7

Mazhabi

Agriculture and labour

8

Sansi, Bhedkut or Manesh

Agricultural and labour

9

Siqligar

Manufacturing and repairing of iron utensils-not selected permanently

10

Barar, Burar or Berar

Chick and tokri making and labour

11

Bazigar

Sheep and goat trade, agricultural labour and sirki-making

12

Chamar, Ramdasi and Ravidasi

Shoe-making, leather tanning, weaving, agriculture and labour

13

Bhanjra

Chick-making, leather

14

Gandhila

Begging-not residing permanently

15

Megh

Service and labour

16

Sapera

Juggler-not residing permanently

17

Deha, Bhaya or Dhea

Labour and begging-not residing permanently

 

Backward Classed

 

1

Kamboj

Agriculture

2

Rai Sikh

Agriculture and Labour

3

Baragi

Agriculture and begging

4

Lohar

Blacksmity and agriculture 

5

Nai or Barber

Hair-cutting and sharing

6

Jogi

Begging and palmistry

7

Mirasi

Begging during marriage and birth ceremony

8

Kashyap Rajput

Dhaba business and labour

9

Labana

Agriculture

10

Kumhar

Clay-pottery and donkey transport

11

Dhobi

Washing and pressing of clothes

12

Chhimba

Agriculture, tailoring and shop keeping

(Source:  District Welfare Officer, Kapurthala)

 

 

 

CHAPTER XVIII

PUBLIC LIFE AND VOLUNTARY SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANISATIONS1

 

 

v    

Representation of the District in the State and the Union Legislatures

v    

Political Parties and Organizations

v    

Newspapers and Periodicals

v    

Voluntary Social Service Organizations

 

(a)       Representation of the District in the State and the Union Legislatures

           At present, the Punjab State has a 117-member unicameral legislature the Vidhan Sabha.  An Indian citizen not less than 25 years of age and possessing such other qualifications as prescribed in the Representation of the People Act, 1951, is eligible to be chosen to be a member of the State Legislature.

 

           First General Elections, 1951-52. –After Independence, the main task before the coalition government at the center was to frame a new constitution.  The Constituent Assembly set up for the purpose completed this task and the Constitution was finally approved in November 1949, and enforced from 26 January 1950.  As in the rest of India, the district of Kapurthala of the erstwhile PEPSU went to the polls for the first general elections in 1951-52. 

           Out of the total population of the Kapurthala district numbering 2,95,071 (1951 Census), the number of electros was 1,65,004.

 

Parliamentary Constituency

There was no Parliamentary Constituency in the district.

 

PEPSU Legislative Assembly Constituencies1

           For the PEPSU Legislative Assembly, there were 4 constituencies consisting of 5 seats in the district, viz. Kapurthala, Sultanpur, Phagwara (double member) and Dhilwan.  From these constituencies, 3 Congress, 1 Akali Dal and 1 Communist candidates were elected.  The total number of votes polled by the different parties is given below:

Name of party

Total No. of valid votes polled

Percentage

Akali Dal

33,901

28.35

Congress

32,035

26.79

Communists

23,285

19.47

Independents

17,198

14.35

Scheduled Castes Federation

9,719

8.13

Jan Sangh

1,368

1.15

Socialists

1,280

1.07

Kisan-Mazdoor Praja Party

809

0.69

Total

1,19,595

100

1  Report on the First General Elections in India, 1951-52, Vol. II, Statistical, pp. 644-45.

 

           Mid-Term Elections to the PEPSU Legislative Assembly, 1954.2 –The first general elections to the Legislative Assemblies of the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) were held in 1951-52, as in the rest of India.  Normally, the Assembly should have had a term of five years in accordance with the provisions of Article 172 (i) of the Constitution.  However, on 4 March 1952, the President issued a proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution by which the Legislative Assembly of PEPSU was dissolved and the President assumed to himself all functions of the Government and all powers vested in or exercisable by the Rajpramukh of the State.  Para (c)(iv) of the proclamation announced that the general election for constituting a new legislative assembly for the state would be held as soon as possible after the Delimitation Commission has finally delimited the constituencies for elections to the legislative assembly of the states.  The Delimitation Commission’s Order containing the delimitation of constituencies in PEPSU was published on 15 September, 1953, and general elections in the state were held in February 1954.

           Out of the total population of the Kapurthala district numbering 2,95,071 (1951 Census), the number of electors was 1,67,039.

 

PEPSU Legislative Assembly Constituencies

           For the PEPSU Legislative Assembly, there were 4 constituencies consisting of 5 seats in the district, viz. Bholath, Kapurthala, Phagwara (double-member) and Sultanpur.  From these constituencies, 3 Congress and 2 Akali Dal (Master Group) candidates were elected.  The total number of valid votes polled by the different parties is given below:

Name of party

Total No. of valid votes polled

Percentage

Congress

59,772

44.42

Akali Dal (Master Group)

36,004

26.75

Communists

18,177

13.51

Independents

14,385

10.69

Jan Sangh

4,249

3.16

Akali Dal (Raman Group)

1,983

1.47

Total

1,34,570

100

2  The Election Commission, Government of India, New Delhi

 

 

 

           Second General Elections, 1957. –The area and the electorate involved had become much larger this time with the merger of the erstwhile PEPSU with the Punjab on 1 November 1956.  The task of conducting the general elections in 1957, therefore, was of greater magnitude and complexity than that of in the 1951-52 elections.  The delimitatin of constituencies effected only a few weeks before the elections, left the minimum of time for the extensive arrangements that were essential.  Besides, the total period for the poll in the State was reduced appreciably (i.e. 24 February to 14 March 1957).  Voting for most of the Assembly Constituencies was completed in a single day instead of being spread over a number of days as in 1951-52.  The counting of votes was also taken up in each Constituency as soon as the polling had been completed, instead of after the polling in the entire State had been completed.  With the reduction of the total period of polling in each constituency, it became necessary to deploy a much larger number of polling staff as well as police.

           Out of the total population of 2,95,071 (1951 Census) of the district, the number of electors was 1,27,314.  In accordance with the report of the Delimitation Commission, 2 Punjab Vidhan Sabha Constituencies were allocated to the district.

 

Lok Sabha Constituency

There was no Lok Sabha Constituency in the district.

 

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Constituencies3

           For the Vidhan Sabha, there were 2 constituencies in the district, viz. Kapurthala and Sultanpur.  Although Phagwara formed part of the Kapurthala district, it was clubbed with the Jalandhar Vidhan Sabha Constituency.

           The number of votes polled by each contesting party is given below:

 

3  Report on General Elections in Punjab, 1957 (Chandigarh, 1959), pp. 121-23.

Name of party

Total No. of valid votes polled

 

Percentage

Congress

38,740

66.80

Independents

12,162

20.98

Communists

7,083

12.22

Total

57,985

100

 

           Third General Election, 1962. –There was a major improvement in the matter of elections this time in regard to the period of poll.  While it took nearly 19 days to complete the poll during the second general elections, the poll this time was held and completed in a single day, i.e. on 24 February 1962 throughout the State except in Kulu and Seraj constituencies where, on account of the areas being snow-bound and inaccessible the poll was deferred and held later towards the end of April.  Punjab was, thus, the only State which had the distinction of having a single-day poll both for the Parlimentary and Assembly electins.  The balloting system of voting which was adopted during the last general elections, was retained this time only in the remote and inaccessible Kulu and Seraj constituencies, and in all other constituencies of the State the marking system of voting was adopted.

           Out of the total population of 3,43,778 (1961 Census) of the district, the number of electors was 2,04,990.

 

Lok Sabha Constituency

There was no Lok Sabha Constituency in the district.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Constituencies4

           For the Vidhan Sabha, there were two constituencies in the district, viz. Kapurthala and Sultanpur.  As in the second general elections, this time too Phagwara was clubber with Jalandhar constituency although it formed part of the Kapurthala District.  From these constituencies, one Congress, and one Akali Dal (Master Group) candidates were elected.  The total number of valid votes polled by each contesting party is given below:

 

4  Report on General Elections in Punjab, 1962 (Chandigarh, 1963), pp. 79-80

 

Name of party

Total No. of valid votes polled

Percentage

Congress

40,703

51.05

Akali Dal (Master Group)

35,934

45.07

Swatantra

2,340

2.93

Independents

756

0.95

Total

79,733

100

 

           Fourth General Elections, 1967. –The general elections held in 1967 were the fourth in the country and the first in the new State of Punjab which cane into being on the reorganization of 1 November 1966.  As in the third general elections the poll throughout the State was held under the making system of voting and completed in one day on 19 February 1967.  The constituencies delimited in 1965 were subjected to delimitation as notified by the Delimitation Commission in November 1966.

           Out of the total population of 3,43,778 (1961 Census) of the district the number of electors was 1,96,583.

 

Lok Sabha Constituency

 

There was no Lok Sabha constituency in the district.

 

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Constituencies5

           For the Vidhan Sabha, there were 3 constituencies in the district, viz. Kapurthala.  Sultanpur and Phagwara (reserved for members of Scheduled Castes).  From these constituencies, the Congress candidates were elected.  The number of valid votes polled by each contesting party is given below:

 

 

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