GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TOWARDS LABOUR 155
have ranged from almost anything which could be regarded of great moment to the labour world.
I would like to say this. Would it have been possible for the representatives of labour outside the Tripartite Conference to have approached any employer even to consider or to talk about those projects ? I am sure about it that no employer in the present disorganised condition of Indian labour would pay a tuppenny worth of attention to the problems which might be brought before them by representatives of employees.
I do claim credit for the Tripartite Labour Conference, that, if we have done nothing more, we have at least done one thing, namely, to induce, if not to compel, the representatives of employees to meet the representatives of employers and discuss matters of the utmost and gravest importance.
I think it is a great service that the Tripartite Conference is doing to the working classes of this country.
Women In Coalmines
My Honourable friend, Mrs. Subbarayan, in her speech referred largely to the question of the introduction of women in coalmines. I do not doubt the intensity of feeling which she said she has on a question of this character. But, Sir, I cannot go over the ground once again because the House will remember that this matter has already been discussed on an adjournment motion. I repeat again that I am indeed unhappy over the decision that we have to take and I assure the House that I am taking every possible step in order to increase the labour force to be employed in the mines and in order to increase coal output so that I may be in a position to put the ban on again at the earliest moment possible.
Shrimati K. Radhabai Subbarayan : May I ask a question of the Honourable Member ? Did Government consult the Tripartite Conference before issuing a notification about employment of women for underground work in mines ?
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : I am afraid we had no time to do it. As I said it was an emergency and we had to meet it by a most emergent measure.
One point which I would like to mention is the point raised by her, namely, that the Government of India, instead of trying to