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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