56 
CHAPTER V. 
have been more extensively introduced than elsewhere, and their compara- 
tive success is probably due in great part to the fact that the woman 
factory inspector employed there has devoted special attention to their 
provision and inspection, and to the education of the women workers in 
their use. The Government of India, women doctors and representatives 
of women’s associations all stressed the importance of the provision of 
creches where an appreciable number of women are employed, and the 
bulk of employers, although preferring voluntary to compulsory schemes, 
also favoured their inauguration. We recommend that creches should 
be provided in all places where women are employed in considerable 
numbers, and we would make the obligation a statutory one in 
all factories employing not less than 250 women. Children up to 
the age of 6 years should be admitted to such creches because, under 
present conditions, it is difficult to prohibit the presence in factories 
of those between 6 and 12 years when younger children and infants are 
admitted. This statutory requirement could be embodied in the Factories 
Act, power also being given to Governments to require the establishment 
of creches in places employing fewer women than 250 where, in their 
opinion, the circumstances warranted it. The organisation and inspec- 
tion of factory creches should be one of the duties of the women factory 
inspectors whose appointment in the industrial provinces we have 
recommended elsewhere. The creches might with advantage be linked 
up with the women’s and children’s welfare centres referred to in the 
chapter dealing with the health and welfare of the industrial worker, but 
this is a matter which could best be arranged by employers themselves. 
Refreshment Sheds and Canteens. 
Some employers provide lunch sheds and the practice might be 
adopted more generally. Where there are good trees in the factory 
compound, these provide a more pleasant place for a meal than a shed, 
but many compounds are treeless and, in any event, a shelter is needed in 
wet weather. In many mills we were struck by the lack of suitable 
places for this purpose and the number of operatives to be seen taking 
meals in all kinds of uncomfortable places. Caste creates an additional 
complication, but this is by no means insurmountable, as has been proved 
in a number of cases. The provision of some shelter where rest and 
refreshment can be taken is in many cases necessary and, moreover, 
would be generally appreciated by the workers. Similarly the provision 
of canteens might be considerd in the case of the larger factories. These 
need not be elaborate in structure or equipment, and should not involve 
any very heavy initial outlay. In the course of our tours we came across 
several successful experiments in this direction. In one instance a 
Brahmin cook had been installed in a kitchen attached to a factory mainly 
employing skilled and semi-skilled workers, and the stimulus given by 
the management to the taking of substantial refreshment in the mid-day 
break was stated to have contributed to the well-being of the workers 
and to have had an encouraging effect on output. Similarly in one or two 
cotton mills in different parts of India small canteens for the supply of 
light refreshments and drinks, both hot and cold. had been installed for