Vol. 10 · pages 751–755

730 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I cannot answer that question, because I do not know. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: May I know if before lifting the ban on women labour, the public was consulted or if the Government removed that ban suo motu ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Government consulted the interests concerned. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : Did they object to it? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No objection. Mr. N. M. Joshi : With reference to part (c), does the Honourable Member say that he has no information whether women are paid equal wages with men ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The point of the question was whether the Secretary of State evaded the question. I said I have no information on the point. Women are paid the same wages as men. Mr. N. M. Joshi: As regards equal payment of wages, is the Honourable Member aware that for men and women who work underground, wages are fixed on the basis of joint work of both ? How then does he say that men and women are paid equal wages ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : If it is brought to the attention of the Government that methods are adopted by which this rule is evaded, the Government will certainly take action in the matter. Mr. N. M. Joshi: Will the Honourable Member enquire whether there is a proper method by which they can find out whether men and women miners are paid equal wages ? My own information is that men and women are paid for joint work and, therefore, it is impossible to find out whether the wages are equal, because both of them get joint payment. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am unable to go into that. I can assure the Honourable Member that Government are contemplating about the appointment of Inspectors whose duty it will be to see that the welfare measures which have been announced by the Government are carried out. Mr. N. M. Joshi : In view of the fact that trade unions both in this country as well as Great Britain are interested in this question of women working underground, will the Honourable Member publish a sort of report on the present conditions of women working underground ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I will consider the suggestion.

731L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 159 * Centres for Training War Technicians 120. Syed Ghulam Bhik Nairang: (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to lay on the table a statement mentioning the names of the centres for training war technicians, and the number of trainees permitted for each centre ? (b) How many centres have been opened in connection with : (i) Government institutions; (ii) Railway workshops; and (iii) private institutions ? (c) How many of these private institutions belong to the Hindus, and how many to the Mussalmans ? (d) What is the number of trainees sanctioned for each of these categories ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) A statement@ is laid on the table. (b) (i) 125 [including centres belonging to Indian States (25), Municipal Corporations (4), Municipal Committees (4), District Boards (5)]. (ii) 26. (iii) 119. (c) and (d). The private training centres are attached to industrial concerns, technical institutions, etc., and in many cases are managed by limited companies, Board of Trustees, etc. In such cases it is not possible to say without detailed inquiries whether they are predominantly Hindu or Muslim owned. There are seven training centres with 763 seats, which are clearly owned by Muslims, and 27 centres with 5,184 seats which are clearly owned by Hindus. 160 † Deputy Directors, Senior Regional Inspectors, Regional Inspectors and Technical Inspectors 121. Syed Ghulam Bhik Nairang: (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state the number of Deputy Directors, * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1944, 16th February 1944, pp. 290-91. @ Statement is omitted. —Ed. † Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1944, 16th February 1944, p. 297.

732 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Senior Regional Inspectors, Regional Inspectors and Technical Inspectors ? (b) How many of these are Mussalmans ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The numbers are as follows : Deputy Directors of Training ... 2 Senior Regional Inspectors of Technical Training 7 Regional Inspectors of Technical Training ... 15 Technical Inspectors ... 8 The fifteen Regional Inspectors include seven, who are part-time and four who are honorary officers. The 8 Technical Inspectors include three part-time officers. (b) None. Dr. Sir Zia Uddin Ahmad : None of these are Muslims ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I said so. 161 * Bevin Boys sent to England for Training 122. Syed Ghulam Bhik Nairang : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state how many Bevin Boys have already been sent to England for training ? (b) How many of these are Mussalmans ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) 563. (b) 110. 162 @ Chairmen of National Service Labour Tribunals 123. Syed Ghulam Bhik Nairang : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the total number of Chairmen of National Service Labour Tribunals ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1944, 16th February 1944, p. 297. @ Ibid., p. 297.

733L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (b) How many of these are Mussalmans ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Ten. Of these four are whole-time Chairmen; and the remaining six are parttime Chairmen who hold other whole-time appointments either under the Central or the Provincial Government. (b) One. 163 * Qualifications and Duties of Coal Commissioner 142. Mr. K. C. Neogy : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please refer to his reply given in the Legislative Assembly on the 17th November 1943, to question No. 250, that “the principal factor that contributed to the shortage of coal is undoubtedly the shortage of labour”, and state why it was deemed necessary by Government to appoint a Coal Commissioner to help to increase coal raising when the primary cause of shortage, according to his above-mentioned reply, was shortage of labour ? (b) What will be the duties of the Coal Commissioner, and what are the qualifications of the person appointed ? Are Government satisfied that no Indian of the requisite qualifications is available ? (c) What will be the official relations of the Coal Commissioner with the Labour Department, the Railway Department and any other Department of the Government, respectively ? (d) What emoluments will the coal Commissioner be entitled to ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Honourable Member for War Transport has agreed to answer the question on the 24th February 1944. 164 @ Measures for Increasing Coal Output 273. Mr. K. S. Gupta : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the measures adopted to increase the output of * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1944, 21st February 1944, p. 345. @ Ibid., Vol. II of 1944, 1st March 1944, p. 719.

734 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES coal to meet the bare necessities like train service and maintenance of indigenous industries ? (b) Is it a fact that service in the mines (coal) is highly injurious to health of the miners ? (c) Is it a fact that no special amenities are offered to coal miners to attract efficient and skilled workers to the service ? (d) Is it a fact that miners and their families are housed in insufficient and insanitary surroundings ? (e) Is it a fact that no medical aid and facilities for education of children are available in the coal mining areas ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) I would refer the Honourable member to my reply to Sir F. E. James starred question No. 82 on 10th February, which gives the principal measures which Government have adopted to increase the output of coal. (b) No. Mining is a dangerous occupation but not necessarily injurious to health. (c) No. Coal miners have been offered food at concession rates and Government are taking steps to increase the supply of consumer goods in the coal fields, it is proposed to increase the amenities offered to coal miners by measures taken under the new Coal mines Labour welfare Fund Ordinance. (d) In the Jharia and Raniganj coalfields housing consists of pucca buildings built in accordance with specifications laid down by the Jharia and Asansol Mines Boards of Health. In other coalfields the housing is arranged at the miners’ discretion for the resident labour which is usually very small. Government are, however, not satisfied with the present arrangements for housing and sanitation in coalfields and schemes to improve these are being prepared under the Coal mines Labour welfare Fund Ordinance. (e) Medical aid and educational facilities which at present exist are not very satisfactory. Schemes to improve these facilities are being prepared under the Coal mines Labour welfare Fund Ordinance. Mr. N. M. Joshi : Will the Government of India make some report to the Legislature on the conditions in coal mines with regard to housing and other conditions and also the improvements made by Government, and place that report before the House ?