812 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes, I know there has been some fall in production, but I understood it was entirely due to the fact that there was lack of machinery.
Mrs. Renuka Ray : As the Honourable Member has told us about dispensaries in the different mines, will he kindly investigate and find out what the medical facilities are and how far the dispensaries are working and giving medicines in the mines at Ranigunj and Jharia ? My information is that some of them cannot work because there are not enough medicines.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : As I said, it was because in the opinion of Government the facilities were not sufficient that Government established the coal Mines Labour Welfare Fund.
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*** Cases of Employment of Children on** Underground Work in Mines
- Mrs. Renuka Ray : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state:
(a) if he is aware of the fact that there are a growing number of cases of violation of the Act prohibiting children in underground work in mines ?
(b) if the answer is in the affirmative, what the steps taken to ensure the enforcement of the Act are; and
(c) if the answer is in the negative, will the Honourable Member kindly investigate the matter and take effective steps to put a stop to any such illegal practice that may prevail ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) No.
(b) Does not arise.
(c) Inspections are regularly made by the Officers of the Department of Mines to enforce the provisions of the Indian Mines Act regarding the prohibition of employment of children in mines and effective steps will be taken as a matter of course if any such illegal practice prevails anywhere.
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1944, 20th November 1944, p. 1003.