866 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
(b) Is the cost of recruiting unskilled labour from Gorakhpur, Ballia and other districts of the United Provinces and their maintenance at the coal fields defrayed out of the proceeds of the cess ?
(c) What is the Contract Form the labour (including women) have to sign ? Will Government place on the table of the House a copy of the order under which this labour is recruited and their contract form ?
(d) What is the machinery to recruit them ?
(e) Where are they usually stationed ?
(f) What was the approximate number of this labour at the various coalfields on the 31st December 1944 ?
(g) Have separate camps been established for them ? If so, are latrine and bath-room conveniences provided ?
(h) How many batches have been sent by now and what is their numerical strength ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes.
(b) The expenditure is initially met by Government. A part of it is recovered from mine owners and the balance is recouped from the Production Cess Fund.
(c) No form of contract is signed by labourer who verbally agree to serve for a period of 6 or 12 months.
(d) Labour Supply Depot, Gorakhpur, run by the Government of the United Provinces.
(e) Coalfields in Bengal and Bihar and Singareni colliery in Hyderabad.
(f) (i) Bengal/Bihar coalfields. 15,400.
(ii) Singareni Colliery. 2,500.
(g) Yes, latrines are provided in most camps and will soon be provided in all, but not bath-rooms. Adequate water supply is however made available.
(h) The total number of labourers despatched is :
Bengal/Bihar coalfields. 37,000.
Singareni collieries. 5,000.