Vol. 10 · pages 721–725

700 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (1) More wagons have been provided to take away coal, particularly in the Bengal and Bihar fields. (2) Efforts are being made to ensure the prompter delivery of colliery stores and machinery. (3) Women have, since August, been permitted to work underground in the Central Provinces and Berar coalfields. (4) Action has been taken to prevent interference with colliery labour from military activities in the coal fields. (5) Schemes are under preparation to provide a greater quantity of consumer goods for collieries and in particular of food, and arrangements are being made to ensure an adequate ration at concession rates to the miners. (6) Welfare officers are about to be appointed in the Bengal and Bihar coalfields to promote the health and general welfare of miners. Mr. K. C. Neogy : Is the Honourable Member in a position to indicate the principal factors that contributed to this coal shortage ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Sir, the principal factor that contributed to the shortage of coal is undoubtedly the shortage of labour. That was due to the fact that labour was drawn away from coal fields by the ‘Grow More Food’ campaign and by the military works that were started near about the area where the coal mines are situated. 135 * The Coal Trade Conference at Delhi 251. K. C. Neogy : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether the principal object of the Conference of representatives of coal trade and other interests, that was held in Delhi on the 23rd October last under his chairmanship, was to consider the question of increasing the output of coal ? If so, what were the circumstances that led to the decision to hold the conference, and the result of the discussions thereat ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1943, 17th November 1943, pp. 422-23.

701L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (b)Has the present effort to increase the output of coal been influenced in any degree by the necessity of stimulating an increased export of coal from India for war purposes or otherwise ? (c) Is it a fact that in a letter issued by the department of Labour to the invitees at the Conference, mention was made of the persistent and increasing fall in the output of coal coupled with the increasing demand for Indian coal, both inside and outside India, which was stated to have caused the Central Government acute anxiety ? When was such anxiety first caused to the Government of India and due to what circumstances, and what action has been taken ever since for the purpose of improving the situation, and with what result ? (d) Is the internal supply of coal in the country likely to be affected in any manner by any policy that Government may have in view with the object of stimulating the export of coal on Government or private account? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes, Government believed that one of the principal reasons for the decline in output was shortage of labour. If this shortage could be made good, the fall in production would be arrested and an increase to the target figures would become probable. Government were anxious to secure the full co-operation of employers in any measures they proposed for this purpose. The principal result of the discussions was an agreement that in Bengal and Bihar the Employers’ Associations should initiate schemes on uniform lines for the supply of foodgrains and other commodities to their labour and the Government of India should assist the Associations in giving effect to such schemes. (b) An increase in output of coal is necessary to meet the internal requirements of Indian industry as these have increased and output has diminished. (c) Yes. Since the beginning of the War, Government have been anxious to maintain the output of coal at its maximum. The peak year for coal production was 1940. There was a very slight fall in 1941 on the 1940 figures and a further slight drop in 1942. It seems more than likely that the 1943 figures will show a further drop on the 1942 figures.

702 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES From about June of this year, it became plain that output was not going to be sufficient to meet the increased demands for coal being made by essential consumers such as War Industries, railways and for military projects of the first importance. Supplies of coal for all consumers have accordingly been rationed. In order to meet these rationed demands, and such outside demands as it might feel necessary to meet, Government have to ensure that 25.65 million tons of coal per annum will be made available for consumption. This is a larger quantity than has ever been made available before; and measures to increase production have, therefore, become of the utmost urgency. As regards the action that has been taken to improve the situation, the Honourable Member is referred to the answer given to part (c) of his starred question No. 15. It is too early yet to assess the results of these and other measures. (d) No. Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh : Is it a fact that in order to increase the output of coal production, female labour has been employed underground in coal mines ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I said so. Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh : If it is so, will the Honourable Member say how long female labour will be employed in these mines ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Well, while the emergency lasts. Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh : Will the Honourable Member tell me what precautions have been taken to look after these female labour employed underground in the mines ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : We are contemplating measures and if my honourable friend will table a question some time in the next Session, I will give him some information. Mr. K. C. Neogy: Has there been any suggestion from His Majesty’s Government for the purpose of stimulating export of coal? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information on the point. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : Next question.

703L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 136 * Appointments of Managers of Government of India Presses, New Delhi and Calcutta 253. H. A. Sathar H. Essak Sait: Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state : (a) whether he is aware that for the recent appointment of Managers of the Government of India Presses, New Delhi and Calcutta, the claims of the senior-most Muslim assistant Managers were overlooked ; if so, the reason therefor; (b) whether it is a fact that the Manager of the Government of India Press, New Delhi, refused to relieve a Muslim clerk recently selected for a clerical job in the office of the controller of Printing and Stationery, while he relieved a number of non-Muslim clerks selected for clerical posts in the Controller’s Office, Assembly Department and Supply Department; (c) whether it is a fact that the Assistant Manager of the Government of India Press, New Delhi, ordered the transfer of six Muslim piece-composition of the Lino Section ; if so, the reasons for such wholesale transfer of Muslims from this Section ; (d) whether it is a fact that the post of a correction checker in the Government of India Press, New Delhi, was recently filled by the officiating Manager by the appointment of a junior new-scale man, overlooking the claims of the senior incumbent in the old scale ; if so, why; (e) whether the Managers and Assistant Managers of Government Presses are empowered to make appointments and promotions and order transfers and declare certain posts selection posts ; if so, whether any rules have been laid down for their guidance in these matters; (f) whether the Honourable Member proposes to institute an enquiry to find out whether these rules are strictly observed by these officers in all cases ; and (g) in view of the frequent and increasing complaints about arbitrary and unjust actions in these matters by the authorities of the *Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1943, 17th November 1943, pp. 424-25.

704 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Government of India Presses, whether the Honourable Member proposes to consider the advisability of constituting an independent committee with powers mentioned in (e) above ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No. (b) No. (c) Yes. This was done in the normal course of sectional interchange which takes place every 3 months to allow each worker periods of easy and strenuous work. Three non-Muslim piece compositors were also transferred along with the Muslims and 2 Muslim piece compositors brought on to the Lino Section. (d) Yes. The post of Correction Checker being a selection post, the best man available was selected on merit. (e) Managers of the Government of India Presses are empowered to appoint and promote men to certain classes of posts in accordance with the rules laid down in the Departmental Handbook. They are not competent to declare any post as selection post. (f) and (g). No specific irregularities of the nature mentioned above have so far occurred necessitating the action suggested. Mr. H. A. Sathar II. Essak Sait: With reference to part (d) my Honourable friend admitted that the claims of a Muslim were overlooked for certain reasons. Is he aware that the Muslim whose claims were overlooked had worked for 22 years ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am prepared to accept that from my Honourable friend, although I have no information. Mr. H. A. Sathar H. Essak Sait : Then he said that the answers to (a) and (b) were in the negative. Will he take it from me that with regard to (a) the appointments have been made this year. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I must have notice of that. 137 * Trade Unions Supplied with Government Publications, etc. 35. Mr. Muhammad Azhar Ali : Will the Honourable Member for Labour please state: (a) the names of the Trade Unions, both registered and unregistered, separately, whose objects arc not confined to one province ; * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1943, 17th November 1943, pp. 438-40.