1030 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Prof. N. G. Ranga : Is it not a fact that they have been favouring him in preference to so many other contractors ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Not at all, Sir.
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*** Supply of Essentials and Other Facilities to** Workers in Mica Mines at Hazaribagh
- Sjt. Seth Damodar Swroop : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state :
(a) if Government are aware that there is no proper arrangement of water for the workers in the Mica mines at Hazaribagh and that no medical aid is available for them in spite of the fact that the area is a well-known epidemic place;
(b) if Government are aware that though the cost of living has increased from six to nine times, no dearness or any such allowance is being paid to the workers and that there is no proper arrangement for sale of rice and other foodgrains at control price at a time when foodgrains have almost disappeared from the market; and
(c) whether Government are aware that the Sub-Divisional Officer of the place has ordered the sale of rice at the rate of two seers and four chataks per rupee while the control price is three seers and eight chataks per rupee ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Water supply arrangements are not satisfactory and the medical aid now given is not adequate and there is scope for improvement which the Government of India hope to undertake shortly by means of Legislation.
(b) So far as Government is aware, in some cases wages have been increased to include the dearness allowance while some important concerns are paying dearness allowance in addition to wages.
Proper arrangement for sale of rice and other foodgrains at controlled price is a matter for the Provincial Government, and I would suggest the Honourable Member takes up the matter with the Provincial Government.
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. IV of 1946, 29th March 1946, p. 3157.