900 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
(f) In most of the cases the dependants are minors or persons incapable of taking care of large amounts. The amount invested in these cases are paid in instalments through Postal Money Order. Only preliminary payments and lump sum payments are made through the Deputy Commissioners and Managers of Tea Estates. The amounts are sent to the Managers of Tea Estates only in cases in which the dependants live in tea Estates. It is found expedient to do so because the Managers will be in a position to identify the dependants, effect the payment promptly and forward the acquittance to the Commissioner of Workmen’s Compensation. This system has worked satisfactory so far.
313
*** Bad Health of Labourers Returned from** Assam Projects
- Dewan Abdul Basith Choudhury : (a) Is the Honourable the Labour Member aware that several hundred labourers returned from the project works in Assam in a very bad state of health ?
(b) Is he also aware that a large number of them are still suffering from various diseases ?
(c) Is it a fact that no proper arrangements have been made for their treatment ?
(d) If the replies to parts (a) to (c) be in the affirmative, does he propose to consider the desirability of representing the difficulties of these unfortunate labourers to the authorities concerned ?
(e) If the replies to parts (a) to (c) be in the negative, does he propose to enquire and lay the result of the enquiry on the table of the House ?
The Honourable Dr. B . R. Ambedkar : (a) Virulent forms of malaria and some other diseases are incidental to the work in the unhealthy jungle tracts of Assam where the war operations have been in progress; therefore some labourers returned from the projects in a bad state of health. The Ex-Gratia payments of compensation for deaths by diseases have therefore been specially ordered to be paid by the Government of India as there is no provision for payment
- Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. I of 1945, 26th March 1945, p. 2010.