L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 815
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*** Restoration of Ban on Women Working** Underground in Coal Mines
- Mrs. Renuka Ray : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state :
(a) when the Government of India intend to restore the ban on women working underground in coal mines in view of their former promise; and
(b) how far the employment of women underground has increased coal raisings ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The Government are most anxious to re-impose the ban as soon as production of coal reaches a figure which makes possible such re-imposition.
(b) Coal raisings have increased appreciably as a result of the employment of women underground, but no exact figures can be given as other factors are in operation at the same time.
Mrs. Renuka Ray : Is the Honourable Member aware that a very infinitessimal proportion represents the increased raisings helped by women working underground and does he consider that the violation of an international code and moral convention is compensated by the increased raisings that is due to women working in the mines even from the point of view increased production ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : My information is to the contrary.
Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh : May I know what is the target of production aimed at by Government in order to restore this ban ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am unable to say.
Mrs. Renuka Ray : Is the Honourable Member aware that the woman acts as loader underground and the man as cutter, and so the rate of progress of each tub is much slower because a woman cannot act as cutter, and the result is that the man has to rest, whereas the rate would be much faster………..
Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim): The Honourable Member is making a speech.
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. V of 1944, 20th November 1944, p. 1004.