Vol. 10 · pages 906–910

885 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (b) whether these officers have reported on the urgency for providing proper residential quarters for workers in factories ; and, if so, what steps Government have taken or propose to take in the matter; and (c) if the answer to (b) is in the negative, whether Government propose to call for an immediate report on the subject ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) There are two full-time Factory Inspectors and two Additional Factory Inspectors. The latter are part time. There is no Labour Welfare and Maternity Centre. Delhi Municipality, exercises the powers of an inspector under the Bombay Maternity Benefit Act, 1929 as extended to Delhi. (b) No, the latter part does not arise. (c) Government will take up for consideration in due course the general question of housing of industrial labour. It is not therefore proposed to call for special report in respect of Delhi Province only. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : May I know, Sir, if Government will consider the proposal to appoint a whole-time Woman Welfare Officer ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, I will consider that. Mr. N. M. Joshi: What is the meaning of “due time” regarding housing ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not think it is a very unusual expression which requires explanation. 304 *Contract System for Engagement of Labour in Delhi Factories 965. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state ; if labour is still engaged in factories in Delhi by contract system ; and, if so, (i) the names of the factories who have that system ; (ii) the number of workers, men and women, employed under that system, by each of those factories ; (iii) the average daily wage of the workers and the rate of dearness allowance ; * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1945, 13th March 1945, pp. 1422-23.

886 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES and (iv) if the workers receive the benefits under the Factories and Maternity Benefits Acts ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, in the case of some factories. A list of such factories is laid on the table. No information is available as regards the number of workers employed through contractors but the number of such persons is small and is limited to coal handling and loading. Information in regard to the average daily wage and the rate of dearness allowance is not readily available, but dearness allowance varies from Rs. 10 to Rs. 32 per month and in factories where no dearness allowance is paid the basic wages have been increased. All factory workers receive benefits under the Factories and the Bombay Maternity Benefit Acts. List of Factories in Delhi in which part of the labour force is employed through Contractors referred to in question No. 965, dated the 13th March, 1945. 1. Birla Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd. 2. Mahabir Cotton Spinning, Weaving and Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 3. Delhi Cloth and General Mills Co., Ltd. 4. Latifi Printing Press. 5. Gwalior Potteries Ltd. 6. Ishwar Potteries Ltd. 7. Delhi Flour Mills Co. Ltd. 8. Delhi Central Electric Power Authority Ltd. 9. Tin Printing and Metal Works Ltd. 10. Ganesh Flour Mills (Vegetable Products Factory). 11. Aggarwal Hosiery Mills. 12. Ordnance Clothing Factory. 13. Malik and Qureshi. 14. H. S. Sidhu, 26, Daryaganj, Delhi. 15. Girdhari Lai Gauri Shanker Textile Factory. 16. Messrs. Pearey Lai and Sons (Lahore) Ltd. 17. The Premier Textile Factory. 18. Phoenix Cotton Tape Factory. 19. Sharma Textile and General Manufacturing Co., 20. Messrs. Aggerllios and Co., 50-Garriston Bastion Road, Delhi. 21. Messrs. Aggerllios and Co., 11-B, Faiz Bazar, Daryaganj, Delhi.

887 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 22. British Niwar Factory. 23. Yadev Niwar Factory. 24. Delhi-Press. 25. Saksaria Printing Works. 26. British Motor Car, O. B. F. Co., Section. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : Since Delhi is so near New Delhi will Government assure me that they will secure this information as soon as possible ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Yes, in due time. Prof. N. G. Ranga : In view of the admitted evils of this contract system of recruiting labour, will Government take early steps to put an end to it ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: This is not a matter in which Government is concerned. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Is it not a fact that the Royal Commission on Labour recommended to the Government that they should take special steps to root it out ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : If my Honourable friend is referring to such labour as is employed through contractors in Government departments, that matter will certainly be considered. Mr. N. M. Joshi : May I know whether Government consider welfare of labour recruited under contract system as not a matter of labour welfare ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : My Honourable friend is quite entitled to draw any inference he likes. 305 * Average Wage of Women in Delhi Factories 967. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) the average wage of women employed in factories in Delhi; and whether they are paid at a daily or monthly rate ; (b) the dearness allowance paid to them ; * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1945, 13th March 1945, pp. 1424-25.

888 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (c) if there is any difference in the wages and dearness allowance paid to the men and women workers doing the same kind of work ; and, if so, the reasons for the difference ; (d) whether the women engaged under contract system receive the same wages and dearness allowance as those directly recruited, and the reasons for the difference, if any ? (e) whether any of the factories provide facilities for maternity and Child Welfare ; and if so, in what manner ; (f) whether any of these factories provide creches and make other arrangements for the care of the children of their employees ; and (g) if the answers to (e) and (f) are in the negative, whether Government propose to take immediate steps to compel the owners of factories to make the necessary arrangements ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Data in respect of the average wage of women employed in factories in Delhi is not readily available. In some factories women are paid at monthly rates and in others at piece or daily rates. (b) No detailed information is available but the dearness allowance paid to women workers ranges from Rs. 10 to Rs. 32. (c) So far as is known, there is no difference in wages and dearness allowance paid to men and women doing the same kind of work. (d) So far as is known women in factories are engaged direct and not through contractors. (e) Two factories provide facilities for maternity and child welfare. (f) Yes, two factories provide creches. In one factory free baths are provided daily to the children of employees and under-nourished children are supplied daily half a seer of milk free of cost. In the other factory free education is given to the children of employees in the school run by the factory and half a seer of milk each is given daily to all the children free of cost. (g) Does not arise. Sir Vithal N. Chandavarkar : May I know whether the Province of Delhi has no Labour Department of its own ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I must have notice of that question ? Mrs. Renuka Ray : May I ask whether it would surprise the Honourable the Labour Member to hear that there are 3,500 women

889 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS in the thread ball factories who do not get any dearness allowance and that men and women are not paid equal wages and is he willing to inquire into this and if he finds it is so, will he take steps immediately to rectify their grievance ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am sure that nothing that comes from the Honourable lady will surprise me. Mr. N. M. Joshi : With reference to his reply to part (a) that the information is not readily available, may I know whether he will make very special effort to make it available ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I will see what I can do. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : May I know, Sir if Factory Inspectors do not send periodical reports to the Government ? How is it that Government say that they have not got the information ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It must be going to the Chief Commissioner of Delhi. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Sir, I wish to seek your guidance in regard to the reply given by the Honourable Member. It appears to me that it is a sort of aspersion cast upon a lady. Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): I do not think the Honourable Member meant to cast any such aspersion. However, you ought to leave it to the lady who put the question to take care of herself. Mr. T. S. Avinashilingam Chettiar : Mr. President, especially today the replies of the Government Benches have been in a tone that is unusual and we had occasion to know about it from the Food Member. And now, Sir, the reply of the Honourable Member to the lady is this. She asked whether he will enquire. The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No. Whether I would be surprised to know that. Mrs. Renuka Ray : And would he be willing to look into the matter ? Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): As regards the tone of the Honourable Member’s reply to the question it is very difficult for mc to judge for I am afraid so far as that is concerned it is not only one part of the House that is concerned. (At this stage, several Honourable Members stood up and spoke simultaneously.) Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): Order, order.