L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 833
(b) So far pit head baths have been provided only in the Digwardih Collieries ; creaches have been installed in 7 collieries of Central Provinces and in one colliery of Raniganj (Bengal).
(c) The Government of India are not aware of the reasons for the delay. They have under active consideration the question of amending the Indian Mines Act to make it obligatory on the mine owner, who employ women workers to maintain creches.
Mr. Abdul Qaiyum : Will the Government see that these improvements are effected in good time before the ban on employment of women takes place ?
Otherwise, there will be no use for these improvements later on ? Will the Honourable Member see that they are not delayed too long ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Employment of women underground may be stopped but employment of women on the surface will continue. Creaches will be necessary. That does not mean that I am going to delay matters.
Prof. N. G. Ranga : How many of those cases reported killed, due to mining accidents, were women ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I want notice.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : What percentage of these deaths was due to asphyxiation and what percentage was due to accidents.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I want notice.
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*Mineral Deposits in South India
- Mr. K. S. Gupta : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the different types of mineral deposits—metalic and nonmetallic—found in South India as a result of the occasional survey done by the Geological Department during the past thirty years ?
(b) Is it a fact that deposits of magnetic iron ore are found in large quantities in easily accessible places ?
(c) Was there any attempt made by the Government of India to establish an iron and steel industry or encourage others to establish one in the vicinity of these deposits ? If not, why not ?
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 9th February 1945, pp. 116-17.