852 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
273
*Deaths of Women Workers in Mines
- Mr. K. S. Gupta : (a) Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state the number of deaths of women workers in the mines of India (including coal) in the years of 1942, 1943 and
1944 due to (i) diseases, and (ii) accidents ?
(b) Is it not a fact that men workers are not available to work in coal mines as the wages offered are not commensurate with the rise in prices of foodstuffs and other necessaries of life ?
(c) Is there any attempt on the part of the mine owners or the Government of India to offer better wages and special amenities of life in the supply of foodstuffs and housing accommodation to mine workers to attract enough men workers to enable the Government to apply the ban on women working underground and thus save the dignity of womanhood in India as in every other civilized country ?
(d) Is it not a fact that infant mortality is very high in the mining areas due to lack of milk from the mother who is automatically getting dry due to hard and strenuous work underground ?
(e) Is it not a fact that no pure milk is available to the workers in the mining areas ?
(f) Are any attempts made by the mine-owners or Government to supply milk free of cost to children at least below one year in the various mining areas ? If not, why not ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) The number of deaths of women in all mines in India due to accidents both on surface and undergound for the years 1942, 1943 and 1944 were
9, 11 and 53 repsectively. No figures of deaths due to diseases are available.
(b) No.
(c) Yes. The following improvements in regard to wages, welfare and amenities have been introduced ;
(1) subsidisation of foodstuffs and the provision of grain shops ;
(2) improved health measures including malaria control and increased provision for construction of hospitals ;
(3) provision of an adequate range of consumer goods for purchase;
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 21st February 1945, p. 620.