1020 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
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*** Strike in Indian School of Mines**
- Sri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state whether there has been a strike in the Indian School of Mines ?
(b) Has the strike ended ?
(c) Is it a fact that recently a deputation of the students waited upon the Honourable Member ?
(d) Is it a fact that the graduates of the Indian School of Mines are not permitted by the Coal Mines Regulations to hold any responsible position in coal mines ?
(e) Will Government consider the advisability of amending the Coal Mines Regulation so as to make the diploma of the Indian School of Mines equivalent to the Second Class Mine Manager’s Certificate of competency subject to the holder obtaining practical experience in coal mines for a further period of one year ? If not, why not ?
(f) What steps do government propose to take to remedy the grievances of the students ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: (a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) Yes.
(d) Yes. The certificate or diploma holders of the Indian School of Mines must secure a Second Class or First Class Colliery manager’s certificate before they can be appointed to a responsible position in a coal mine.
(e) and (f). The matter is under consideration. Government are considering the extent to which the regulations under the Mines Act can be altered to give some weightage under those Regulations to the Diploma of the School of mines, but they do not consider that it is possible to treat that diploma as a substitute for the Second Class mine manager’s certificate granted under those regulations.
Prof. N. G. Ranga : When Government are responsible for both certificates as well as diploma, what is it that prevents the Government of India to see that diploma holders are given training which will be
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 2981.