Vol. 10 · pages 831–835

810 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES the same period ? Is it a fact that the All-India Women’s organisation has not been given similar permission till now ? If so, what is the basis for such differentiation ? Why is it that a responsible body like the All-India Women’s organisation who are interested in the welfare of women has not been allowed ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : They are official bodies which were allowed. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Are not the Members of the Legislature on that Committee ? Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): The Honourable Member is arguing. Mr. T. S. Avinashilingam Chettiar : Why are women stopped from going into the mines and investigating ? Why should Government consider that the time is not suitable only in the case of Women’s organisation ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Honourable Member can draw his own inference. Mr. N. M. Joshi : May I ask whether it is not a fact that Government do not consider the time suitable because the conditions in the mines are so bad that they do not like investigation being made by an impartial body ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Honourable Member is at liberty to draw his own inferences. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): Next question. 235 * Shortage of Labour in Coal Mines due to Malaria 580. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state: (a) if it is a fact that the shortage of labour in coal mines, particularly during the months of August and September was due to a large proportion of mining labour suffering from malaria and that no adequate treatment was possible due to the inadequate supply of quinine; and * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1944, 20th November 1944, pp. 1001-02.

811 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (b) if the Honourable Member is aware of the fact that mining labour is suffering so acutely from the effects of diseases and malnutrition that this has seriously affected their efficiency; if so, what steps taken to remedy this are ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The coal-mining labour is not immune to the seasonal incidence of malaria, but it is not correct to say that a large proportion of this labour suffered from the disease during August and September. The incidence of the disease per thousand of the average daily labour force employed in the Jharia Coalfield was 81 and 80 for the month of August in 1943 and 1944 respectively and 111 and 74 for the month of September in 1943 and 1944 respectively. Every effort is made to provide adequate facilities for treatment and sufficient supplies of quinine and its substitutes. (b) It cannot be said that mining labour is suffering acutely from mal-nutrition. As regards their health all collieries employing 30 persons or more are required to maintain a dispensary and distribute medicines through their doctors. Coal Mines Labour Welfare Fund has recently been set up from which measures for prevention of disease in the mining population and improvement of medical facilities will be financed. Mr. K. C. Neogy : With regard to the point about malnutrition, will the Honourable Member please make a statement as to whether it is not a fact and an admitted fact that apart from the shortage of labour in collieries, individual output of work has gone down due to malnutrition ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am not certain about the facts mentioned by my Honourable friend. Mr. K. C. Neogy : Will the Honourable Member make an enquiry from the Honourable the Supply Member, who, I understand made a statement to this effect on a recent occasion when he met one of the Chambers of Commerce. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : There is no need for an enquiry as the Honourable Member seems to be in possession of the fact. Mr. K. C. Neogy : Will the Honourable Member convince himself about the truth of this position ?

812 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, I know there has been some fall in production, but I understood it was entirely due to the fact that there was lack of machinery. Mrs. Renuka Ray : As the Honourable Member has told us about dispensaries in the different mines, will he kindly investigate and find out what the medical facilities are and how far the dispensaries are working and giving medicines in the mines at Ranigunj and Jharia ? My information is that some of them cannot work because there are not enough medicines. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : As I said, it was because in the opinion of Government the facilities were not sufficient that Government established the coal Mines Labour Welfare Fund. 236 * Cases of Employment of Children on Underground Work in Mines 581. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state: (a) if he is aware of the fact that there are a growing number of cases of violation of the Act prohibiting children in underground work in mines ? (b) if the answer is in the affirmative, what the steps taken to ensure the enforcement of the Act are; and (c) if the answer is in the negative, will the Honourable Member kindly investigate the matter and take effective steps to put a stop to any such illegal practice that may prevail ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No. (b) Does not arise. (c) Inspections are regularly made by the Officers of the Department of Mines to enforce the provisions of the Indian Mines Act regarding the prohibition of employment of children in mines and effective steps will be taken as a matter of course if any such illegal practice prevails anywhere. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1944, 20th November 1944, p. 1003.

813 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Mrs. Renuka Ray : Is the Honourable Member aware that there is a growing number of cases of violation in some of the mines in Jharia and Ranigunj coalfields and that children of 14 and 15 are signed up as adults and actually go down the mines ? And what does the Honourable Member propose to do about it ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : If the Honourable Member has any specific cases having reference to specific mines and will bring them to my notice, I will certainly take the matter up. 237 * Underground Work in Mines by Pregnant Women 582. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state: (a) if he is aware of the fact that pregnant women usually work underground in mines until the ninth month and again a fortnight after child birth, and that in mines where maternity benefits are not given they work even longer ? (b) the steps Government have taken to stop pregnant women from working underground; (c) if it is a fact that there have been a certain number of accidents to women working underground within the last year and there is no way of ascertaining how many of these accidents have occurred to pregnant women; and (d) if it is a fact that maternity benefits are given only in some mines; what steps Government intend to take to make maternity benefits compulsory for all women working in mining areas ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) I am not aware of the basis for this allegation. Under section 3 of the Mines Maternity Benefit Act, employment of a woman for a period of four weeks following her confinement is prohibited. Further a woman is entitled to leave of absence for a period of one month before she expects to be delivered of a child. Inspections under this Act are regularly made by the Labour * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1944, 20th November 1944, p. 1003.

814 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Inspectors under the Chief Inspector of Mines, all of whom are doctors, with a view to enforcing the provisions of the Act and the rules made thereunder. (b) As already stated, pregnant women are entitled to leave of absence for a period of one month before the date of delivery; and the object of the employment of Labour Inspectors under the Chief Inspector of Mines is to make known to these women their rights under the Act and to assist them in securing the benefits of that Act. (c) Yes, but no information of any of these women being pregnant has been received. During enquiries following accidents, the evidence of the colliery doctor is invariably recorded and if a woman were pregnant her condition would be disclosed and recorded. (d) The Mines Maternity Benefit Act 1941 applies to all mines in British India except: (i) certain stone crushing plants forming part of mines in the province of Bombay; (ii) iron ore mines worked without mechanical power, the whole of the ore from which is supplied locally to village smelters and blacksmiths; and (iii) those mines in which excavation is being carried out for prospecting purposes only, provided not more than 20 persons are employed in or about such excavation and subject to certain other conditions. It is not considered necessary to make maternity benefits compulsory in these small mines. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai : Have there actually been any cases of pregnant women having suffered ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, there have been some. Mr. Lalchand Navalrai: When ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Since they started working. These accidents are often occurring in the coal mines. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Will the Honourable Member tell us whether the best way of preventing pregnant women from going down the mines would not be to restore the ban on women working underground ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I entirely agree, provided the circumstances were propitious.