L. A. DEBATES (CENTRAL) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 915
330
*** Liquor Shops in Vicinity of Railway Coal Mines**
- Shrimati K. Radha Bai Subbarayan : Will the Honourable the Labour Member please state :
(a) if it is a fact that there are liquor shops in the vicinity of Railway coal mines; and, if so, the days and hours when they are open;
(b) whether the management of these mines are aware that these liquor shops tempt miners to waste their wages on drink and ruin their health and that, consequently, the attendance of the miners and the output of coal in the mines on the day following the pay-day is adversely affected;
(c) if the reply to (b) above is in the negative, whether Government propose to call for a report on the matter; and
(d) whether Government also propose to ask the authorities concerned either to abolish liquor shops in mining areas, or to restrict the hours of opening and the quantity of liquor sold per individual and to close them fully on paydays ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (a) Yes. There are liquor shops in the vicinity of coal mines owned by railways as well as by others. I regret I have at present no information about the days and hours of opening but I shall obtain it and place it on the table of the House.
(b) No.
(c) Government will call for a general report on the relations between drink and the health and production of miners.
(d) Excise administration is a Provincial subject. On receiving a report, however, Government will consider if any recommendations appear necessary in regard to liquor shops.
I should add that about December 1944, the retail prices for distillery liquor in the Bihar coalfields was increased and the Provincial Government is watching the effect of this increase of prices before considering any other action to restrict the consumption of liquor. A report received last year from Bengal suggets that there has been
*Legislative Assembly Debates (Central), Vol. II of 1945, 29th March 1945, p. 2239.