Vol. 10 · pages 911–915

890 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 306 * Re-employment of a Government Servant after Conviction 972. Mr. Muhammad Hussain Choudhury : With reference to the reply to starred question No. 407 on the 14th March, 1944, regarding re-employment of a Government servant after conviction, will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether any enquiry was made in regard to the Government servant referred to in that question ? If so, what was the result of that enquiry, and what action was taken by Government ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes. Though the individual had been dismissed by the Punjab Government, that Government had permitted him to take up employment either in the Central Public Works Department or elsewhere. In view of this and the fact that he has been continuously employed in the Central Public Works Department since February, 1942, no further action was considered necessary. Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani : What was the charge for which the particular person was dismissed by the Punjab Government? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Mere assault. 307 @ Post-War Plans for Improving Labour 1043. Mr. T. S. Avinashilingam Chettiar : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) whether Government have any post-war plans for improving labour in this country ; and (b) whether they will consider the advisability of setting apart a portion of the profits of all organised industries for improving the standard of life and giving education to the labourers employed in the respective industries ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Government’s final plans in this respect have not been formulated. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 13th March 1945, p. 1428. @ Ibid., 16th March 1945, pp. 1598-99.

891 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (b) The suggestion will be considered along with others in implementing Government’s plans. Mr. Abdul Qaiyum : When are these plans likely to be formulated ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : As soon as the investigating committee has reported. Mr. Abdul Qaiyum : May I know if there is a time limit for this committee to report? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, they have promised to give us their report sometime in August next. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Will Government consider the advisability of expediting their plans so that before the profits earned for this year are dissipated by the industries, they may be able to set apart a portion of the profits for improving labour conditions ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I shall bear the suggestion in mind. 308 * Provision of Quarters for Mines 1054. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) if residential quarters arc provided for miners in all mining areas ; and if not, why not; (b) if no quarters are provided, what steps Government propose to take to ensure that miners have proper housing accommodation ; (c) if Government are aware that the sanitary conditions in mining areas are very unsatisfactory and that lack of good housing accommodation and proper sanitation is seriously affecting the health of the miners and their families and thereby production; and (d) if Government propose to consult the Tripartite Conference about the matter referred to in (c); and, if not, why not ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Residential quarters are provided for miners in the important mining areas. (b) Does not arise. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 16th March 1945, pp. 1604-05.

892 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (c) The Indian Mines Act lays down the primary requirements regarding sanitary and health provisions ; and the Mines Inspectorate see that they are properly observed. (d) I shall consider the suggestion. Shrimati K. Radhu Bai Subbarayan : Since the coal situation is very grave may I ask Government if they will appoint a Committee of Experts, Medical Health and Engineering, to go into the questions mentioned in (c) ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : We have already appointed a Coal Mines Welfare Committee by whom all these questions are considered. Mr. N. M. Joshi : May I ask what proportion of miners are housed in the houses provided in the mining areas ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am afraid I must have notice of that question. Mr. N. M. Joshi : The Honourable Member has made a wrong statement. 309 * Restoration of Ban on Women Working Underground in Mines 1055. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) if Government have seen the recent report of questions and answers in the House of Commons regarding women working underground in mines ; and, if so, whether and when Government supplied Mr. Amery with the information that he stated he had called for, and what that information is ; (b) when Government will conclude the consideration of the question of restoring the ban on employment of women underground in mines; (c) what steps Government have taken to prevent such hardships to women ; “are low but compare favourably with the pay in other industries in India” is based on facts ; and * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 19-45, 16th March 1945, p. 1605.

893 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (d) if the answer to (c) is in the affirmative, the rates of pay for women workers in other industries in India ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Government have seen the reports in question. They do not consider it in the public interest to disclose the nature and contents of their report to the India Office. (b) The question of the restoration of the ban on the employment of women underground in mines is constantly under review. (c) and (d) What the Secretary of State said was that the rates of pay “compare favourably with those of other industries in that part of India”. The only comparable labour is that employed on the neighbouring construction works, and Government believe that the statement is not far from truth. (e) Arrangements have been made for ante-natal and postnatal care by the Mines Board of Health in the Jharia and Ranigunj coalfields. Some of the larger mines provide independent arrangements. (f) Women doctors and adequate staff are employed at some of the large mines. Many mines provide midwives and nurses at hospital. The second part of the question does not arise. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : May I ask if Government will make uniform arrangements in all mines for the welfare of women ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : We have that matter under consideration. Mr. N. M. Joshi : In view of the fact that the House has declared itself against the employment of women below ground, will the Government of India now impose the ban in accordance with the wishes of this Legislature ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I thought that the decision of the House was more of a political demarche than a decision on merits. Prof. N. G. Ranga : He has wilfully misunderstood the intention of the House. Mr. Abdul Qaiyum : On a point of order, is the Honourable Member free to put such an interpretation as to impute motives in regard to a well-considered decision of the House ? If so, it will be very difficult to carry on. We have an irresponsible Government, and if they are going to talk like this……..

894 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : It is a speech you are making. On a point of order you cannot make a speech. Mr. Abdul Qaiyum : Can he impute motives ? Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): As I followed the Honourable Labour Member, I believe he wanted to convey to the House that the question was considered from more than one point of view including political. At any rate, I do not think he was imputting any wrong motive to the House by saying that the question has been dealt with on political grounds. Mr. Abdul Qaiyum : On a point of explanation, the official report of what the Honourable Member said may be referred to. He said it was a political demarche. Mr. N. M. Joshi : May I know if the Government of India reconsidered the question after the vole given by this Legislature ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have nothing to add to what I said. 310 * Dr. Krishnan’s Suggestions re Mineral Resources of India 1773. Prof. N. G. Ranga : Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state : (a) If his attention has been drawn to the report of a lecture delivered by Dr. M. S. Krishnan to the Geology Association of the Presidency College, Madras, on the 14th of March, as reported in the Hindu, of the 14th March; (b) What steps are being taken to obtain adequate quantities and build up reserves of copper, silver, nickel, platinum, tin, mercury, graphite and potash; (c) what steps are also being taken to develop and exploit hydraulic (electrical) power resources in all those provinces which do not have coal mines within easy reach, so as to develop local industries; * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1946, 12th April 1946, pp. 3899-3901.