L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 849
that miners’ children who live in neighbouring areas are sometimes not permitted into the creches and there are no adequate facilities in most of the mines for the care of infants or children, even where creches exist in name with very few exceptions ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not know how the Honourable Member knows that there are no creches when she does not go and visit.
Mr. N. M. Joshi : The Honourable Member had gone to the mining areas.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I have also gone.
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*** Steps for Enforcing Mines Maternity Benefits** Act in Mining Areas
- Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state :
(a) what steps Government have taken to enforce the provisions of the Mines Maternity Benefits Act in mining areas since women miners are illiterate and ignorant of their rights ;
(b) whether Government have any report about the application of this Act since it was passed in 1941 ;
(c) whether four week’s absence before and after delivery of a child has not proved insufficient to give adequate relief to the women miners and avoid injury to their health; and
(d) whether Government have obtained medical opinion on the subject referred to in (c); and, if so, whether Government will place a copy of it on the table of the House ; and, if not whether Government propose to take steps to secure such opinion ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) One Senior Labour Inspector and two Junior Labour Inspectors who are qualified doctors have been appointed, under the Chief Inspector of Mines in India.
(b) Although Government themselves have not received reports about the working of the Act, the Inspectors under the Chief Inspector
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 21st February 1945, pp. 610-11.