Vol. 10 · pages 746–750

725L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (d) Prior to 1st March 1943, no free ration was admissible to Administrative Officers; since then the concession has been extended to them at the same rate allowed to Civil Pioneers, namely, at a cost of Rs. 15 per mensem per head. Of late owing to fluctuations in prices of foodstuffs it has not been possible to maintain the rate. The Provincial Government have, therefore, been authorised to purchase rations on the approved scale at a cost not greater than the prevailing market rates provided the purchase is made by the Provincial authorities themselves. STATEMENT Part (a) 1942 Central Provinces and Berar … … 5 1943 1942 Orissa … … 2 1943 1942 Madras … … 1 1943 Bombay … … Nil … Punjab … … 1942 … 1943 3 United Provinces … … 1942 1943 1 Bihar … … 1942 … 1943 2 Bengal … … 1942 3 1943 11 North West Frontier Province … … 1942 1 1943 2 Total ... 31 It should be noted that the two classes of Officers are of quite separate status. If a candidate is accepted as an Administrative Officer, the Provincial Governments are under no obligation to elevate him to Commissioned Officer grade. In certain cases, however, Administrative Officers, who have proved their worth, have been granted Commissions as 2nd Lieutenants when vacancies occurred.

726 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES STATEMENT Part (c) Province Non- Brah- mins Brah- mins Back- ward Classes Sche- duled Castes Mus- lims Chris- tians Anglo Indians C. P. and Berar : Commissioned Officers 5 4 1 2 3 1 … Administrative Officers 8 5 … … … 1 … Orissa : Commissioned Officers 18 9 1 … 4 2 … Administrative Officers … …. …. …. …. …. …. Madras : Commissioned Officers 34 … … 7 7 15* … Administrative Officers … … … … … … … Bombay : Commissioned Officers 2 6 … 3 2 … … Administrative Officers 4 1 1 … 1 … ... Punjab: Commissioned Officers 11 … … 2 13 1 … Administrative Officers 8 … … … 9 … … United Provinces : Commissioned Officers 15 … … 4 5 2 1 Administrative Officers 7 2 4 1 Bihar: Commissioned Officers 17 … … 2 5 2 … Administrative Officers … … … … … … … Bengal : Commissioned Officers 31 … … 17 56 7 … Administrative Officers … … … … … … … North West Frontier Province : Commissioned Officers … … … … 19 … … Administrative Officers 1 … … … 7 … … TOTAL 161 25 3 39 135 32 1 * Includes both. STATEMENT Part (e) 1942 2Central Provinces and Berar … … 1943 Orissa … … 1942 Nil2 Madras … … 1943 1 1942 1Bombay … … 1943

727L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Punjab … … 1942 … 1943 3 United Provinces … … Nil 1942 … Bihar 1943 1 1942 2 Bengal … … 1943 11 1942 … North West Frontier Province … … 1943 1 Total … 24 Clerks in the Civil Pioneer Force are on a relatively low rate of pay consequently not many of them are suitable for promotion to Administrative Officer. Mr. G. Rangiah Naidu : Is it not a fact that in the beginning of the war these Administrative Officers were allowed to apply for posts of Commissioned Officers if and when vacancies arose ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information on the point. 157 *Accommodation for Women Government Servants 112. Sir F. E. James : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state : (a) if there is a Labour Department rule to the effect that no Government servant earning less than Rs. 600 per month is entitled to accommodation in a Government hostel, hotel or other residence in Delhi or New Delhi classified as “first class accommodation”; (b) whether this rule applies to women Government servants; (c) if the answer to (b) is in the affirmative, if any variation of the rule is made in the case of women Government servants who live away from their homes and for whom the available accommodation is not suitable, or who, though not drawing more than Rs. 600 per month, are filling posts whose permanent male incumbents draw more than that amount; (d) the composition of the Accommodation Advisory Committee; * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1944, 16th February 1944, p. 283.

728 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (c) if this Committee is empowered to authorise departures from the above rule in suitable cases; and (f) in how many cases this Committee has relaxed the rule in respect of women Government servants ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) Yes. (c) No. (d) (i) Lt. General T. J. Hutton, C.B., M.C. (ii) The Honourable Mr. H. C. Prior, C.S.I., C.I.E., I.C.S. (iii) The Honourable Mr. E. Conran-Smith, C.S.I., CLE., I.C.S. (iv) Mr. G. Mackworth-Young, C.I.E., I.C.S. (e) No, the Committee can only make recommendations to His Excellency the Governor-General. (f) In view of the answer to (e) above, this does not arise. Sir F. E. James : My Honourable friend is doubtless aware of the hardship which the rigid application of this rule inflicts upon a number of perfectly good, hard-working and deserving women in Government service ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am aware of that. Mr. N. M. Joshi : May I ask if the Government of India propose to introduce rationing of accommodation in view of the difficulty felt by several people ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I can give no answer at this stage. Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : May I ask when was this Accommodation Advisory Committee appointed and who appointed it ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information available at this stage. 158 Introduction of Women Labour in Coal Mines 114. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether it is a fact that the Honourable Member has re-introduced women labour in coal mines ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1944, 16th February 1944, pp. 285-86.

729L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (b) Is it a fact that women labour in coal mines in India was abolished under popular pressure ? (c) Is it a fact that Mr. Amery, Secretary of State for India, evaded the question put to him recently in the House of Commons, as to whether women labourers were paid the same wages as men, and whether they were working under ground ? (d) Does the Honourable Member propose to make a statement on the two points referred to in (c) above ? (e) Is it a fact that man labour for coal mines is available in India ? If so, why is not that labour being utilized instead of women labour ? (f) Is it a fact that the women are employed because they work harder and are satisfied with little, though their health suffers and their families are broken ? If not, what are the special reasons to re-engage women instead of men ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Women labourers are now allowed to work underground in coal mines in the Central Provinces and Berar, Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. (b) It has been for many years the deliberate policy of the Government of India that women labour should not be allowed to be employed underground in coal mines in India. Provision to this end was made in the Indian Mines Act, 1923. In 1929 women began to be excluded from underground workings and the process was complete in 1937. (c) I have no information. (d) No. I made a statement on these two points in answering the adjournment motion moved by Mrs. Renuka Ray on 8th February. (c) Women have been allowed to work underground owing to the severe shortage of male labour. As soon as there is an assured male labour force sufficient to raise the quantity of coal required by Government, Government will consider reimposing the ban on the employment of women underground. Government are taking immediate steps to import male labour into Bengal and Bihar coalfields. (f) No. As stated in answer to (e) women have been allowed underground in certain coalfields because sufficient men were not available. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: With reference to part (b), may I know if it is a fact that labour of women was abolished under public pressure ?