Questions and Answers - Page 818

L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 797

Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh : What is the difficulty about the collection of statistics ? I thought I had said set this Department in motion by asking a question about statistics a year ago. May I ask if the work of the collection of statistics has not yet begun ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have just begun and I think we have made a good beginning.

Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh : May I ask what had he been doing for the last one year ? When did he make a beginning ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : We had many other things to do besides this. We have made a good beginning.

Prof N. G. Ranga : May I ask if early steps be taken to initiate the gathering of statistics about unemployment in different industries ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have already said that we have initiated the policy of collecting statistics.

Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh : May I know if anything has been done in carrying out the promise made to me last time in collecting statistics ?

The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have already said a beginning has been made.

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*** Employment of Women Underground** in Mines

  1. Mr. Manu Subedar : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member be pleased to state if it is a fact that the employment of women underground is against the Geneva Convention accepted by the Government of India ?

(b) Is Government aware that no such employment has taken place in the United Kingdom in spite of the stress of war requirement ?

(c) When did Government make this relaxation, and why ?

(d) How long do Government expect to keep it open to employ women in coal mines ?

(e) How many women are so employed ?