Vol. 10 · pages 916–920

895 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (d) whether any steps are being taken to draw power from wind through wind mills and to popularise the use of wind mills ; and (e) whether Dr. Krishnan’s suggestion of establishing “well-equipped laboratories” to “assess the quality and quantity of the various minerals” and also his suggestion that locally available minerals shall be utilised in preference to imports will be fully studied ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) During the war Government had a proposal under consideration to build up in India a strategic stock of certain important minerals and related substances; but it did not materialise. Government are considering a revision of its which are in short supply in India. (c) Generally speaking steps arc being taken by Provincial and State Governments to develop and exploit Hydro-Electric Power Resources to the maximum extent of technical manpower at present available for such investigations. Central Technical Power Board is already assisting in certain cases subject to limit of its present strength in man-power and do more when adequate technical staff is procured. Government of India are fully aware of the necessity for far greater measure of Hydro-Electric System development throughout the country than is at present being undertaken, particularly in areas which are remote from major coal deposits, but they consider that this cannot be achieved without a far greater body of experienced technical personnel than at present exists and to this end are doing their utmost to recruit Specialists Technical personnel on contract. (d) No special steps are being taken by Government of India to draw power from wind or to popularise use of Wind Mills at present. Government is advised that such installations, while useful in selected areas depending on Meteorological conditions, are individually productive only extremely small amounts of power and that too intermittently. (e) The Geological Survey of India has been lately re-organised and its laboratory facilities considerably expanded. Further expansion in the direction of providing free advice and information on mineral and mining matters is being taken up. The recently planned National

896 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Metallurgical and National Chemical Laboratories will be fully equipped to assess the quality of Indian minerals and in other ways prove of great assistance in the development of mineral industries. Domestic treatment and utilisation of India’s minerals and ores, in preference to their export in the raw conditions, is being considered by Government. A number of industrial Panels, instituted since 1944, have collected valuable information and data under this head which are being studied for the framing of a new Mineral policy. Prof. N. G. Ranga : As regards part (c), the Honourable Member says they need many more specialists in order to develop these hydroelectric power resources. What steps are Government taking to get Indians of requisite abilities and qualifications to specialise in these directions so that their services may be made use of? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : A number of Indians have been sent abroad for training in these specialised occupations. Prof. N. G. Ranga : As part of this new scheme of sending scholars ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : In addition to them, there are also other people who have been sent. Prof. N. G. Ranga : With reference to part (d), my Honourable friend threw cold water on the suggestion to utilise wind power by saying that it could only give intermittent power and nothing more. In view of the fact that thousands of peasants are interested in these windmills, will Government try and look into this matter a little more carefully and devise ways by which they can possibly assist our peasants and others to draw as much power as is possible from wind and thus help them ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : As I said it depends upon how much wind there is in any particular area. Prof. N. G. Ranga : There are meteorological experts and it ought to be possible for them to work out some plans and see how much power can be derived by utilising wind in different parts of the country ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes; we have considered that.

897 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Mr. N. M. Joshi : May I know if the Government of India reconsidered the question after the vote given by this Legislature ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have nothing to add to what I said. 311 *Arrangements for Care of Miners’ Children 1057. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state : (a) the information received by Government about arrangements for the care of children and infants of miners since the reply given to starred question No. 436 on the 21st February, 1945 ; (b) the information received by Government on the points raised in supplementaries to that question; and (c) whether milk is supplied free to infants and children of the miners ; and, if so, the quantity of milk given to each child according to age, and if no milk is given, the reason for not giving it ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) and (b). I have not yet received a report on all matters, but would first make clear that there is an absolute prohibition on women at any time taking babies underground, and themselves going underground for a period of 4 weeks after childbirth. An enquiry made by the Lady Labour Welfare Officer a few months ago disclosed that women in an advanced state of pregnancy generally did not go underground and I have introduced a Bill which while giving longer benefit will prohibit them from going underground for 10 weeks before expected date of childbirth. So far as I have ascertained no organised facilities exist for mothers to come to the surface to feed their babies at regular intervals, but the Lady Welfare Officer states that there is a tendency for women with children at home to leave the mines early to return to their homes. (c) In a few mines only Government are examining further possibilities in regard to improvement of health of women and children in mining areas. * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central). Vol. I of 1945, 26th March 1945, p 2006.

898 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Prof. N. G. Ranga : In regard to that tendency for mothers who have left their children at home to leave the mines a little early, are they made to suffer any loss of wages because they leave a little early, or are they encouraged to leave the mines early without loss of pay ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : They are paid by tubs: it is piece work. Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : How many hours at a stretch do they work ? The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is piece work ; they can go any time and come at any time. 312 * Tea Garden Labourers sent on Assam Projects 1313. Dewan Abdul Basith Choudhury : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state whether he is aware that a large number of persons have been sent by the Managers of Tea Gardens to projects in Assam as labourers ? (b) Is the Honourable Member also aware that no compensation has yet been granted to the dependents of many labourers who have lost their lives while engaged in project work ? (c) Is it a fact that in those cases where compensation has been granted to the dependents of the deceased project workers, the amount paid is Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 ? Is this amount considered adequate ? (d) Is the Honourable Member aware that the dependents of these unfortunate labourers are experiencing great difficulties in receiving payments of the compensation money ? (e) Does the Honourable Member propose to consider the desirability of paying adequate compensation to the dependents of all labourers who have their lives in the projects ? (f) Does he also propose to consider the desirability of paying the compensation money through the Sub-Divisional Office instead of through the Tea Garden Office ? * Legislative Assembly Debates (Central). Vol. I of 1945, 26th March 1945, p. 2007.

899 L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The Honourable Dr. B . R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. (b) The information is not correct. The Government of India in the War Department have directed payment of compensation to all labourers recruited by the Indian Tea Association (besides some other categories of labourers who have either lost their lives or have been injured as a result of their employment in the War projects in Assam. The Controller of Emigrant Labour has been appointed Commissioner of Workmen’s Compensation for the settlement of these claims. He has paid compensation in over 4,000 cases within the last two years. The number of applications for compensation received by him on behalf of the Labourers of the Indian Tea Association alone up to 28th February 1945 is 2,612. Of these payments have been made in 2,309 cases. 217 cases have been rejected and 86 cases are under enquiry. (c) Compensation is paid according to the rates under the Workmen’s Compensation Act in all cases coming under the operation of the Workmen’s Compensation Act and in other cases Ex-Gratia payments of Rs. 900 for death and Rs. 1,200 for total disablement are paid. A preliminary payment up to Rs. 300 is paid in the first instance. The Honourable Member is apparently referring to this preliminary payment. (d) The amounts of compensation ordered to be paid in lump sums are paid through the Deputy Commissioner of the Managers of Tea Estates if the dependants live in Tea Estates. In the case of minors and persons incapable of taking care of large amounts, the amounts are invested in the Post Office by the Commissioner of Labour, Assam, and remitted to them in periodical instalments by Postal Money Order. There has been some delay in the investment and remittance in the early stages as the Postal Department were unable to deal with the large number of investments but remittances are now issued systematically. (e) As stated in reply to part (c) the rates of compensation paid in cases coming under Workmen’s Compensation Act are those laid down in the schedule of the Act. In the other cases the amounts of Rs. 900 for death and Rs. 1,200 for permanent total disability have been based on the rates admissible under the Act to a labourer receiving similar cash emoluments. These rates of compensation are considered adequate.