Vol. 10 · pages 836–840

815 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 238 * Restoration of Ban on Women Working Underground in Coal Mines 583. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) when the Government of India intend to restore the ban on women working underground in coal mines in view of their former promise; and (b) how far the employment of women underground has increased coal raisings ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The Government are most anxious to re-impose the ban as soon as production of coal reaches a figure which makes possible such re-imposition. (b) Coal raisings have increased appreciably as a result of the employment of women underground, but no exact figures can be given as other factors are in operation at the same time. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Is the Honourable Member aware that a very infinitessimal proportion represents the increased raisings helped by women working underground and does he consider that the violation of an international code and moral convention is compensated by the increased raisings that is due to women working in the mines even from the point of view increased production ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : My information is to the contrary. Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh : May I know what is the target of production aimed at by Government in order to restore this ban ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am unable to say. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Is the Honourable Member aware that the woman acts as loader underground and the man as cutter, and so the rate of progress of each tub is much slower because a woman cannot act as cutter, and the result is that the man has to rest, whereas the rate would be much faster……….. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): The Honourable Member is making a speech. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1944, 20th November 1944, p. 1004.

816 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Mrs. Renuka Ray : I should like to know if the Labour Member does not consider that the rate of progress of the work per tub is much slower because women work as loaders and cannot work as cutters. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am glad to have that information, but I am passing no opinion either on the reliability of the statement or the feasibility of the suggestion. 239 * Post of Labour Welfare Officer for Government of India Presses 586. Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) whether the post of Labour Welfare Officer for the Government of India presses was advertised; if so, when and how; (b) whether any selection has been made; (c) whether it is a fact that the post was reserved for a Muslim; (d) the number of persons who have been appointed as Assistant Labour Welfare Officers during the last two years; and (e) what their academic qualifications are and how many of them are Muslims ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) One posts of Labour Welfare Officer for the Government of India Presses has been sanctioned and it was advertised by the Federal Public Service Commission in the approved newspapers in June last. Applications were due to reach the office of the Commission by the 10th July; (b) and (c) Yes. (d) One lady Assistant Welfare Adviser was appointed directly under Labour Department. (e) She is M.A., M. Litt., and is a Hindu. Prof. N. G. Ranga: Are these officers appointed for the Central Government Presses or also for the Provincial Government Presses ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : For the Central Government Presses. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1944, 20th November 1944, pp. 1005-06.

817 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 240 * Statistics re Private Newspaper Owners and Their Employees 600. Mr. Kailash Bihari Lall : Will the Honourable Member for Labour be pleased to state : (a) if the Government have obtained any statistics about the number of private newspaper owners and the persons employed by them; and (b) if the answer to (a) be in the negative, do the Government propose to obtain the statistics with a view to afford relief to such employees with regard to (i) rules of leave, (ii) list of holidays, (iii) grades of salaries and (iv) dearness allowance ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No. (b) The Labour Investigation Committee is collecting general information regarding the terms and conditions of employees in printing presses. The question as to what additional information should be collected and as to the feasibility of legislating to govern the conditions of employees of newspaper organisations will be considered in due course. Mr. Kailash Bihari Lall : May I know if Government can at least obtain the figures regarding Delhi Printing Press ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I think it would be better to wait in order to know what the Labour Investigation Committee is doing in this matter. Mr. Kailash Bihari Lall : Delhi is a small area of which the Honourable Member can get……………. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): The Honourable Member is arguing. Next question. 241 @ Extensions of Service in Government of India Press, Aligarh 601. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) whether it is a fact that extension after extension in service is allowed in many cases in the Government of India Press, Aligarh * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1944, 20th November 1944, p. 1013. @ Ibid. pp. 1013-14.

818 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (b) whether it is a fact that every year the Manager of that Press recommends a lot of cases of extension to the Controller of Printing and Stationery in India; (c) whether it is a fact that fully trained and qualified men are available in that Press to work in the places of these men whose extension has been recommended by the Manager and who are on the verge of retirement; (d) whether it is a fact that the claims of some of the qualified men for the posts of these retiring hands have been blocked due to these recommendations for extension in service; and (e) if the answers to (a) to (d) be in the affirmative, has the Honourable Member considered the advisability of issuing instructions to the effect that no further extension be granted in future under any circumstances ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b) No. Only a few cases are recommended. (c) In some cases qualified men are available, in others not. (d) No. (e) Does not arise. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : Do I understand that the answer to part (a) of the question is in the negative, and he has not been recommending any extensions whatsoever? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I said, only a few cases are recommended. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : Has the General Manager been granting any extensions, or not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : The Manager has been granting extensions. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : May I know why these extensions are granted when qualified persons are available. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am not prepared to admit that extensions are granted notwithstanding that qualified persons are available. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : I understood the Honourable Member to say that sometimes extensions are granted even when qualified persons are available.

819 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, in a very few cases. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : May I know the reason for which extensions are granted to people even under those circumstances ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I understand that the general reason why these extensions are granted in the cases referred to by my Honourable friend are entirely governed by the fact that some people lose their pensions if they are not given a year or two’s extension. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : Is that the only reason, or is there some other reason also ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am not aware of any other reason. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : Will the Honourable Member be pleased to enquire whether the extensions that were given in the cases referred to were solely for this reason or for some other reason ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have made enquiries and that is the information I have. Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : May I know the names of persons included in those ‘few cases’ ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no names of persons, but I have a certain number of cases before me. Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : What community do they belong to ? (No reply). Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): Next question. 242 * Time Scale of Pay for Binders and Warehousemen of Government of India Press, New Delhi 602. Qazi Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) whether it is a fact that the Government of India has sanctioned the Time Scale of pay for which the Binders and * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1944, 20th November 1944, pp. 1014-15.