§ 3. Colonel APPLINasked the Under secretary of State for India the number of people within British India who belong to the depressed classes (outcastes); whether these people have representatives in the Legislative Assembly; and what number are permitted to vote at elections?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe term "depressed classes" is susceptible of varying definition, and the number of persons so described cannot, therefore, be accurately estimated. Lord South-borough's Franchise Committee estimated 1927 the number in British India at 41 millions by a process which was not exactly similar in all provinces. I have no information how many members of the depressed classes are qualified as voters. They have, as such, no representatives in the Assembly; on the other hand there is nothing to prevent such a person who is otherwise qualified from being elected or nominated a member of that body.