DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR 263
Coal Commissioner will consider the question of reimposing the ban on employment of women underground.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am sure that is not his function.
Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : I should like to know whether the Coal Commissioner or the Committee will consider whether under labour conditions prevailing now in mines, women should be permitted to continue to work underground any longer and whether it is not injurious to the health of women to do such work in mines.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : That will not be a matter within their purview.
Mr. Abdul Qaiyum : Then, what is the use of having them ?
Mr. N.M. Joshi (Nominated Non-official): As I envisage, the function of this committee, when it was appointed, was to find out facts and certainly the Committee will find out facts regarding the question of employing women underground, and every question……
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I understood Shrimati Radhabai Subbarayan to refer to the Coal Commissioner and his work.
Shrimati K. Radhabai Subbarayan : And also to the committee to which my Honourable friend referred.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Yes, they might.
Mr. N.M. Joshi : That is the view I take that the Committee will consider every question.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I thought she was referring only to the Coal Commissioner.
Mr. N.M. Joshi : Including the removal of the ban on the employment of women and all questions concerning labour in all fields. I therefore feel that this money should be voted.
Mr. Chairman (Syed Ghulam Bhik Nairang): The question is:
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding Rs. 2,40,000 be granted to the Governor General in Council to defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1945 in respect of’ ‘Department of Labour ’ ”.
The motion was adopted.
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