L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 899
The Honourable Dr. B . R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes .
(b) The information is not correct. The Government of India in the War Department have directed payment of compensation to all labourers recruited by the Indian Tea Association (besides some other categories of labourers who have either lost their lives or have been injured as a result of their employment in the War projects in Assam. The Controller of Emigrant Labour has been appointed Commissioner of Workmen’s Compensation for the settlement of these claims. He has paid compensation in over
4,000 cases within the last two years. The number of applications for compensation received by him on behalf of the Labourers of the Indian Tea Association alone up to 28th February 1945 is
2,612. Of these payments have been made in 2,309 cases. 217 cases have been rejected and 86 cases are under enquiry.
(c) Compensation is paid according to the rates under the Workmen’s Compensation Act in all cases coming under the operation of the Workmen’s Compensation Act and in other cases Ex-Gratia payments of Rs. 900 for death and Rs. 1,200 for total disablement are paid. A preliminary payment up to Rs. 300 is paid in the first instance. The Honourable Member is apparently referring to this preliminary payment.
(d) The amounts of compensation ordered to be paid in lump sums are paid through the Deputy Commissioner of the Managers of Tea Estates if the dependants live in Tea Estates. In the case of minors and persons incapable of taking care of large amounts, the amounts are invested in the Post Office by the Commissioner of Labour, Assam, and remitted to them in periodical instalments by Postal Money Order. There has been some delay in the investment and remittance in the early stages as the Postal Department were unable to deal with the large number of investments but remittances are now issued systematically.
(e) As stated in reply to part (c) the rates of compensation paid in cases coming under Workmen’s Compensation Act are those laid down in the schedule of the Act. In the other cases the amounts of Rs. 900 for death and Rs. 1,200 for permanent total disability have been based on the rates admissible under the Act to a labourer receiving similar cash emoluments. These rates of compensation are considered adequate.