720 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
collieries and for the Singareni collieries in Hyderabad. Steps are also being taken to prevent colliery workers being employed on other works in the coalfields.
(ii) The mining associations have agreed to provide foodgrains to their labour at the rate of 6 seers to the rupee. The Government of India are arranging with Provincial Governments to provide foodgrains for miners and their dependants in certain quantities. In addition, wages together with dearness allowance have been raised to 50 per cent above their 1939 level. Further, the Government of India are encouraging all collieries to introduce a production bonus based either on attendance or on out-put, and it is understood that many collieries have already introduced such a bonus.
(iii) Every effort is being made to obtain machinery from abroad. Government is prepared to allow depreciation both for Excess Profits Tax and Income-tax on new coal cutting machinery now to be purchased at an annual rate of 50 per cent on the written down value of such machinery. The trade have been asked whether they will accept these terms and if so, to send details of the machinery they require. Their reactions arc awaited.
(iv) A proposal to encourage production by granting bonuses on increased out-put free of Excess Profits Tax is under discussion with the trade.
(v) Steps are also being taken to provide consumer goods, standard cloth and medical stores in adequate quantities.
(d) (i) Government are not aware of any colliery owner who is deliberately refraining from producing the maximum possible. In order, however, to prevent any such possibility, a scheme is under consideration and is being discussed with the trade by the Coal Commissioner, whereby a target figure of production will be fixed for each colliery. It is proposed under the scheme that where a mine owner fails to produce the target tonnage, the Coal Commissioner will, unless he is satisfied that there is some good reason for such default, issue a formal warning to the mine owner that in the event of persistent default, Government will requisition his mines and may, if circumstances so require, acquire the mines outright.
(ii) The distribution of coal is made by the Controller of Coal Distribution working under the direction of the War Transport