Vol. 10 · pages 871–875

850 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES of Mines submit reports to him regularly and suitable action is taken by the Department of Mines. (c) and (d). The four-week period before and after delivery in respect of women is in line with similar provision under Factory legislation. The question of increasing the period before delivery in respect of women employed underground is under consideration. Prof. N. G. Ranga : What about after delivery ? Will Government also consider the advisability of extending the period after delivery ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is not necessary. There is complete prohibition on the employment of women who have delivered. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Is the Honourable Member aware of the fact that since the ban on the employment of women underground was withdrawn, there have been cases in some mines of children being born underground. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Will the Honourable Member kindly find out and take steps to see that such cases do not occur ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : If the Honourable Member will refer me to specific cases, I shall certainly make inquiries. Mrs. Renuka Ray : I am prepared to do so. Shrimati K, Radha Bai Subbarayan : May I ask for an assurance that Government will get the opinion of a competent medical authority on this important question, before they come to a decision on it ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : They will undoubtedly, if they find it necessary. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : Is it not a fact that the International Labour Conference during its last session suggested that the period before and after confinement should be about two months under the Maternity Benefits Act ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have no information. I do not recall that. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : I understand that it is mentioned in the report which the Government have circulated to us. Mrs. Renuka Ray : Since the Honourable Member considers that he is justified in ignoring the International Convention prohibiting women working underground, I should like to know if he thinks it also unnecessary to consider the maternity benefits provision of the International Labour Conference ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : We are considering that matter.

851 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 272 * Abolition of Distinction between Orthodox and Un-Orthodox Quarters 451. Mr. H. A. Sathar H. Essak Sait : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) the reasons that led to the decision to abolish the distinction between “orthodox” and “un-orthodox” types of quarters as stated in the Labour Department Memorandum, dated the 25th January, 1945; and (b) the effect of this decision on (i) the present occupants of such quarters and (ii) those who qualify for these quarters in the future ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) According to the allotment rules hithertho in force, applicants for accommodation had to apply either for the orthodox or the un-orthodox type of quarters and those who applied for one type of quarters were considered ineligible for the other type. In view of the present shortage of accommodation, the above rules very often worked to the disadvantage of the officers eligible for these types of accommodation, and produced the anomalous result that if an applicant failed to secure accommodation in the type he had applied for, he was obliged to go without any accommodation at all, even though he might have secured accommodation in the other type, had he applied specifically for that type. Further, the maintenance of the distinction between the two types of quarters entailed extra work in the Estate Office in as much as the allotment of the two types of quarters had to be kept separate. Besides, it was also felt that the maintenance of the distinction between orthodox and un-orthodox quarters and their allotment on the basis of the orthodoxy or otherwise had become out of date. (b) (i) None. (ii) The decision of 25th January 1945 has since been slightly modified on 15lh February 1945. Those who are eligible for the particular category of ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ type of accommodation will be eligible to apply for both types of quarters. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 21st February 1945, p. 618.

852 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 273 *Deaths of Women Workers in Mines 453. Mr. K. S. Gupta : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the number of deaths of women workers in the mines of India (including coal) in the years of 1942, 1943 and 1944 due to (i) diseases, and (ii) accidents ? (b) Is it not a fact that men workers are not available to work in coal mines as the wages offered are not commensurate with the rise in prices of foodstuffs and other necessaries of life ? (c) Is there any attempt on the part of the mine owners or the Government of India to offer better wages and special amenities of life in the supply of foodstuffs and housing accommodation to mine workers to attract enough men workers to enable the Government to apply the ban on women working underground and thus save the dignity of womanhood in India as in every other civilized country ? (d) Is it not a fact that infant mortality is very high in the mining areas due to lack of milk from the mother who is automatically getting dry due to hard and strenuous work underground ? (e) Is it not a fact that no pure milk is available to the workers in the mining areas ? (f) Are any attempts made by the mine-owners or Government to supply milk free of cost to children at least below one year in the various mining areas ? If not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The number of deaths of women in all mines in India due to accidents both on surface and undergound for the years 1942, 1943 and 1944 were 9, 11 and 53 repsectively. No figures of deaths due to diseases are available. (b) No. (c) Yes. The following improvements in regard to wages, welfare and amenities have been introduced ; (1) subsidisation of foodstuffs and the provision of grain shops ; (2) improved health measures including malaria control and increased provision for construction of hospitals ; (3) provision of an adequate range of consumer goods for purchase; * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 21st February 1945, p. 620.

853 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (4) provision of transport to and from work ; (5) increase in the rates for coal raisings at Railway Colleries so as to enable the contractors to offer more attractive wages to labour; and (6) an informal agreement between Government and the mine-owners for an increase in the wages of colliery labour. (d) It cannot be said that infant mortality is very high in mining areas due to lack of milk. Infant mortality figure in the coalfields is less than the All-India figure. (e) Pure milk is available in mining areas. Samples of milk are frequently taken and examined by the Inspectors employed by the Mines Boards of Health and action is taken when adulteration is discovered. (f) No. Government are examining further possibilities in regard to improvement of health of women and children in mining areas. 274 * Women Workers Working Underground in Mines 454. Mr. K. S. Gupta : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the number of women workers underground in the years 1942, 1943 and 1944 ? (b) Is there any attempt made to reduce the number of women employed underground ? If not, why not ? (c) Is it a fact that in certain coal mines women are allowed or compelled to work even in stages of advanced pregnancy, thus giving rise to child births underground ? Was any report to that effect brought to the notice of Government ? If so, what is the action taken to put a stop to such a malpractice ? (d) Would Government consider the question of applying a strict ban on women working underground as soon as the seventh month of pregnancy is complete ? If not, why not ? (e) Are Government aware that maternity benefit offered to women workers is only nominal and that several complaints are made to their * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 21st February 1945, p. 621.

854 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES immediate superiors who do not care to report to the authorities concerned ? (f) Does the Honourable Member propose to make an enquiry and remedy the defects ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) 1942—Nil., 1943— about 7,000, 1944—16,000. (b) Yes. Every effort is being made to expedite the bringing about of such conditions as would enable Government to reimpose the ban on the underground employment of women in coal mines. In other mines, the ban already exists. (c) No. So far as I am aware no children have been born underground in mines. No such reports have ever been received. The last part of the question does not arise. (d) A proposal on these lines is under the consideration of Government. (e) There are one Senior Labour Inspector and two Junior Labour Inspectors working under the Chief Inspector of Mines to administer the Mines Maternity Benefit Act, and every effort is made to see that the requirements of this Act are complied with. (f) No. 275 * Scheme for Recruitment of Gorakhpur Labour for Employment in Coal Mines 464. Mr. K. C. Neogy : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to explain in detail the scheme for the recruitment of Gorakhpur labour and its employment in the coal mines ? (b) What is the total number of labourers so far recruited under this scheme ? What has been the total expenditure incurred therefor, and how much of it has been and is expected to be recovered from the collieries in which the labourers are employed or intended to be employed ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 21st February 1945, p. 629.