(vi)      Tuberculosis. –India has accepted “District Tuberculosis Control Programme” as a comprehensive control programme for the whole country, especially in the rural areas.  This envisages integration of the specialized T.B. services at the district headquarters with the general medical services at the periphery in the rural areas.

           Pulmonary tuberculosis is fairly common in the district and arrangements for its treatment exist in the bigger hospitals.  The T.B. clinic attached to the civil hospital Kapurthala is the only specialized institution in the district.  Health education is given to the patients as well as to their family members.  The number of patients treated during 1976 to 1981 is given below: -

Year

No. of patients treated

1977

4,076

1978

2,763

1979

2,678

1980

4,557

1981

4,106

(Source:  District T.B, Officer, Kapurthala)

 

(d)       Medical and Public Health Services

           The Civil Surgeon, Kapurthala, is the head of the medical department at the district level and exercises supervisory and administrative control over all government medical institutions within the district.  Previously, medical services were divided into two wings, viz. medical and health.  The District Medical Officer was responsible for the functioning of hospitals and dispensaries and medical and surgical work in the district, besides being the government medico-legal expert.  The District Medical and Health Officer was incharge of the health wing and was responsible for sanitation, disease prevention and health promotion services in the district.  He was also to advise the municipalities on public health matters.  Both the wings worked under the administrative control of the Director of Health Services, Punjab, Chandigarh.

           In April 1964, the two wings were merged and the Chief Medical Officer was given charge of both these wings.  The post of Chief Medical Officer was redesigned as Civil Surgeon in June 1974.

           The Civil Surgeon, Kapurthala, is assisted by 1 District Health Officer, 1 District Family Welfare Officer, 1 Assistant Civil Surgeon, 7 Medical Officers Clss I, 117 Medical Officers Class II, 1 District Public Health Nurse, 4 Nursing Sisters, 96 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, 42 Nurses, 21 Lady Health Visitors, 56 Dais, 1 Senior Laboratory Technicians, 4 Laboratory Technicians, 46 Dispensers, besides ministerial staff and other allied and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

           On the health side, the Civil surgeon is assisted by the staff of the malaria unit.  Besides, the Zila Parishad and municipalities assist him in the public health field.  In order to check adulteration of food-stuffs, the Civil Surgeon had delegated powers to the Medical Officers of hospitals/dispensaries, who can draw samples of food-stuffs.

 

Hospitals, Primary Health Centres, Dispensaries, etc.

           The allopathic medical institutions in the district are under the control of Civil Surgeon, Kapurthala, while the Ayurvedic and Unani institutions are under the control of the District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer, Kapurthala.

           Allopathic Medical Institutions. –As on 1 April 1981, there were 76 medical institutions (allopathic) in the district.  Their tahsil and area wise break-up is given below:

Tahsil

Rural

Urban

Total

Kapurthala

33

8

41

Sultanpur Lodhi

14

1

15

Phagwara

16

4

20

District Kapurthala

63

13

76

 

           The management-wise break-up of the above medical institutions (allopathic) is: 70 State Public and 6 State Special.  The list of hospitals, primary health centres and dispensaries in the district is given in Appendix II at pages 279-283.

           The particulars regarding the family planning units/clinics and maternity and child health centres in the district are given in Appendices III and IV at pages 284 and 285, respectively.

           Ayurvedic and Unani Medical Institutions. –As on 1 April 1981, there were 25 Ayurvedic and 2 Unani medical institutions in the district.  Out of these 27 institutions 23 are functioning in the rural areas and 4 in the urban areas.  Their tahsil-wise and area-wise break-up is given below:

Tahsil

Rural

Urban

Total

Kapurthala

      11

1

12

Sultanpur Lodhi

3

1

 4

Phagwara

9

2

11

District Kapurthala

23

4

27

 

           All these institutions are managed by the government.  Their detailed list is given in Appendix V at page 286.

 

Government Hospitals and Nursing Homes

           Civil Hospital, Kapurthala. –Originally known as Randhir Hospital, the Civil Hospital, Kapurthala, was started in 1875.  The hospital has 125 beds.  It provides specialized treatment in medicine, surgery, gynecology, eye diseases, dental, pediatric, etc.  The hospital is manned by 1 Senior Medical Officer P.C.M.S. Class I, 1 Medical Officer P.C.M.S. Class I, 14 Medical Officers P.C.M.S. Class II, 1 Matron, 2 Nursing Sisters, 20 Staff Nurses, 4 Pharmacists, 1 Laboratory Technical, 1 Radiographer, and 1 Dental Mechanic, besides other technical and ministerial Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

           The number of outdoor and indoor patients treated in the hospital, from 1977 to 1981, is given below:

Year

Number of outdoor patients treated

Number of indoor patients treated

1977

1,72,377

5,874

1978

97,846

6,829

1979

1,61,194

7,548

1980

93,969

7,225

1981

1,29,404

7,443

           Civil Hospital, Sultanpur Lodhi. –Established in 1934, the hospital has 50 beds and provides free treatment in medicine and surgery.  Family planning facilities are also available.

           The hospital is manned by 1 Senior Medical Officer P.C.M.S. Class I, 2 Medical Officers and 3 Pharmacists, besides other technical and ministerial Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

           The number of outdoor and indoor patients treated in the hospital, from 1977 to 1981, is given hereunder:

Year

Number of outdoor patients treated

Number of indoor patients treated

1977

36,114

918

1978

36,945

983

1979

37,844

1,061

1980

35,624

1,121

1981

28,561

1,420

 

           Civil Hospital, Phagwara. –Established in 1913-14, the hospital has 50 beds.  It provides specialized treatment in medicine and surgery.  It is also equipped with an X-ray plant, laboratory, operation theatre and an ambulance.

           The hospital is manned by 1 Senior Medical Officer P.C.M.S. Class I, 5 Medical Officers, 1 Blood Transfusion Officer, 1 Senior Dental Officer, 1 Lady Health Visitor, 1 Nursing Sister, 8 Staff Nurses, 3 Pharmacists, 1 Radiographer, 2 Laboratory Assistant and 1 Dai-Nurse, besides other technical and ministerial Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

           The number of outdoor and indoor patients treated in the hospital, from 1977 to 1981, is given hereunder:

Year

Number of outdoor patients treated

Number of indoor patients treated

1977

1,07,594

3,436

1978

77,140

3,542

1979

71,702

3,685

1980

60,165

3,927

1981

62,878

3,971

 

           Blood Bank. –A blood bank was opened in the Civil Hospital, Kapurthala, in 1962-63.  It was shifted to the Civil Hospital, Phagwara, in 1975 and was reshifted to the Civil Hospital, Kapurthala in 1977.

           Family Welfare Programme. –This programme was started in India by various voluntary organizations in the fifties.  Realizing its importance, the Government of India encouraged it by giving grants-in-aid liberally.  In the sixties, it was felt that these organizations alone could not deliver the goods, more particularly in the rural areas.  Hence this programme was taken up by the government by providing 100 per cent assistance to the States and it was started as a Centrally sponsored programme.  Since its start, varying stress had been laid on various methods of family planning.  On 16 April 1976, the then Union Minister of Health and Family Planning, released a statement on national population policy where various aspects of the programme were discussed.  Later in 1977, the policy was reviewed and the name of the programme changed to Family Welfare Progrmme.  It was stressed that it should be pursued vigorously as a wholly voluntary programme and as an integral part of a comprehensive policy covering education, health care, family welfare and nutrition.

           The Family Welfare Programme was implemented on target oriented basis in the State in 1967-68.  The number of sterilization operations performed and the performance under IUD, MTP and oral pills programme in the Kapurthala district during 1977-78 to 1981-82 is given hereunder:

Year

Number of sterilization operations

I.U.D.

M.T.P.

Pral Pills

1977-78

   254

   775

523

 

1978-79

   716

1,346

728

16

1979-80

1,032

1,379

532

10

1980-81

1,617

2,561

692

14

1981-82

2,430

2,810

    1,315

15

(Source:  Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh)

 

           Prevention of adulteration of foodstuffs. –The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954, is aimed at assuring supply of pure and nourishing foodstuffs to the people and is administered in the State by the State Food Health Authority (Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab) assisted by the Local Health Authorities (Civil Surgeons) and Food Inspectors (Government Food Inspectors and Medical Officers notified as Food Inspectors).  Surprise raids are conducted under the orders of the Local Health Authority by the Food Inspectors under the administrative supervision of a Senior Medical Officer.

           During a raid, samples of edibles suspected to be adulterated/misbranded are taken for analysis by one of the three food laboratories at Chandigarh, Jalandhar and Bathinda.  Sampling is done in a way that half the samples are taken from the manufacturers and wholesalers and the rest from the retailers.  More emphasis is laid on sampling the more commonly used articles like milk and its products, oils, vegetable ghee and ghee, wheat-flour, gram-flour, spices, cold drinks, etc.

           Three samples are taken of every article to be sampled.  One is sent to the food laboratory for analysis and the two are deposited with the Local Health Authority.  In case the sample fails to satisfy the standards, the Food Inspector lodges a complaint with the area magistrate and informs the concerned shopkeeper and manufacturer also in case a sealed product is marketed.

           The shopkeeper is given the choice of getting the second sample tested from the Central Laboratory if he is not satisfied with the State Food Laboratory.  The third sample is used if the second one leaks or breaks on way to the Central Food Laboratory.  The decision of the Central Food Laboratory is final.  In case, the sample is established to be sub-standard, the seller or manufacturer is prosecuted, the prosecution being followed up by the Prosecution and Litigation Department of the State.  Punishments are awarded for causing obstruction in the performance of his duties by a Food Inspector.

           During 1981-82, 171 samples were seized in the Kapurthala District. The number of prosecutions launched was 30 and cases found adulterated were 29. as many as 9 persons were imprisoned and Rs. 9,000/- were realized as fine.

 

           Applied Nutrition Programme - The applied nutrition programme is a centrally sponsored scheme and is multi-departmental in character. Local social service organizations and international agencies like the United Nations International Children  Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the world Health Organization (WHO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are also associated with it.  The UNICEF provides financial assistance for the training programme and for equipment, while the WHO and FAO provide technical assistance.

           This programme was started in the Nadala Block of Kapurthala District in the year 1964-65.  By the end of 1968-69, it was got covered completely.  In the Kapurthala Block, this programme was started in 1969-70 and ceased functioning by the end of 1973-74.  It was started in Sultanpur Lodhi Block in 1977-78.

           The main objects of the programme are: to develop a programme of education and training in the applied nutrition programme and related subjects for establishing an effective field service to improve the diet through production; preservation and use of protective foods by pregnant and nursing mothers, pre-school and school children; to promote through demonstration and education among the communities sound and hygienic knowledge of production, preservation and consumption of protective foods; and to extend facilities for training in applied nutrition programme for the selective groups of personnel in community development blocks.

           In order to give practical shape to this programme, the specific schemes undertaken includes domestic poultry units, piggery units, fisheries, kitchen gardens, school/community gardens, demonstration feeding programmes, model kitchens, demonstration of preparation and preservation of foods, economic schemes for mahila mandals and grant-in-aid for balwadies.

 

(e)       Sanitation

           The Government of India launched a National Water Supply and Sanitation Programme in 1954, especially with a view to improving the environmental sanitation in the rural as well as the urban areas.  The main aims are to prevent spread of water-borne communicable diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and typhoid to check contamination of food, water, and milk due to insanitary disposal of refuse to provide tapped water supply and replacement of dry latrines with flush latrines; and to free sweepers engaged in sub-human system of collecting, handling and transporting night soil.  Since the inception of the programme, the State Government has been taking necessary steps to achieve the objects.

 

           (i)       Public Health and Sanitation in Urban Areas. –Provision of civil and other amenities in the towns is assuming increasing importance with economic development.  Kapurthala town has open surface drains in the old localities and new localities are going in for an underground drainage system.  It has the largest number of service latrines.  Tubewells and hand pumps are the major sources of protected water supply.  Tap water supply has also been ensured in most of the localities of the town.

           Phagwara town has open surface drains and night-soil is disposed of by conventional methods.  Municipal tubewells and handpumps are the principal sources of protected water supply.  The scheme of supplying piped water is under implementation in the town.

           Sultanpur Lodhi does not have any modernized civic amenities.  Hand-pumps are the major sources of protected water supply in the town.

 

           (ii)      Rural Sanitation and Water Supply. –In the rural areas, sanitation work is looked after by the development block staff and primary health centers and units.  People have become conscious of public hygiene and the rural sanitation has considerably improved.  In the rural areas, where the water supply has all along been from open wells, emphasis is being laid on installing hand-pumps.  Many wells have been remodeled.  People are encouraged to pave lanes and construct pucca drains, manure pits, etc.

 

APPENDIX I

(Vide page 269)

Deaths registered by Causes in the Kapurthala District, 1977 to 1981.

Causes of death

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

Cholera

-

-

-

-

-

Smallpox

-

-

-

-

-

Plague

-

-

-

-

-

Fevers

651

699

757

949

849

Dysentery and Diarrhoea

189

204

90

59

78

Respiratory Diseases

202

273

141

259

286

Injuries

20

47

18

148

142

Other Causes

2,253

2,261

1,818

1,666

1,684

Total

3,253

3,484

2,824

2,081

3,038

(Source:  Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh)

 

 

APPENDIX II

(Vide page 272)

List of Hospitals, Primary Health Centres and Dispensaries in the Kapurthala District as on April 1981.

SN

 

Name of Institution and Location

No of Beds

 

Rural/Urban

Type of Management

Tahsil

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

 

Hospitals

 

 

 

 

 

1

Civil Hospital, Kapurthala

60

65

Urban

State Public

Kapurthala

2

Rural Hospital, Kala Sanghian

15

15

Rural

Do

Do

3

Rural Hospital, Maqsudpur

15

10

Do

Do

Do

4

Civil Hospital, Sultanpur Lodhi

30

20

Urban

Do

 Sultanpur Lodhi

5

Rural Hospital, Kabirpur

15

10

Rural

Do

Do

6

Civil Hospital, Phagwara

32

18

Urban

Do

Pagwara

7

Rural, Hospital, Saprore

15

10

Rural

Do

Do

 

Primary Health Centres

 

 

 

 

 

8

Primary Health Centre, Bholath (Garbi)

4

4

Do

Do

Kapurthala

9

Primary Health Centre, Begowal

4

4

Do

Do

Do

10

Primary Health Centre, Dhiwan

4

4

Do

Do

Do

11

Primary Health Centre, Kala Sanghian

-

-

Rural

State Public

Do

12

Primary Health Centre, Tibba

4

4

Do

Do

Sultanpur Lodhi

13

Primary Health Centre, Panchat

4

4

Do

Do

Phagwara

 

Dispensaries/Clinics

 

 

 

 

 

14

T.B. Clinic, Kapurthala

2

1

Urban

Do

Kapurthala

15

Urban Slum Area Dispensary, Harijan Basti, Kapurthala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

16

School Health Clinic, Kapurthala

-

-

Do

Do

Do

17

Town Dispensary, Kapurthala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

18

Urban Slum Area Dispensary, Guru Nanakpura, Phagwara

2

2

Do

Do

Phagwara

19

Urban Slum Area Dispensary, Near Balmiki Mandir, Palahi Gate, Ambedkar Nagar, Phagwara

2

2

Do

Do

Do

20

Sub-Health Centre, Blair Khanpur

2

2

Rural

Do

Kapurthala

21

Sub-Health Centre, Bhano Langa

2

2

Do

Do

Do

22

Sub-Health Centre, Buh

2

2

Do

Do

Do

23

Sub-Health Centre, Dhapai

2

2

Do

Do

Do

24

Sub-Health Centre, Khalu

2

2

Do

Do

Do

25

Sub-Health Centre, Khiranwali

2

2

Do

Do

Do

26

Sub-Health Centre, Khera Dona

2

2

Rural

State Public

Kapurthala

27

Sub-Health Centre, Khusropur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

28

Sub-Health Centre, Surkhpur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

29

Sub-Health Centre, Nurpur Labana

2

2

Do

Do

Do

30

Sub-Health Centre, Sidhwan

2

2

Do

Do

Do

31

Sub-Health Centre, Bholana

2

2

Do

Do

Do

32

Sub-Health Centre, Sheikhpur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

33

Sub-Health Centre, Wadala Kalan

2

2

Do

Do

Do

34

Sub-Health Centre, Kot Karar Khan

2

2

Do

Do

Do

35

Sub-Health Centre, Bhawanipur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

36

Sub-Health Centre, Saiflabad

2

2

Do

Do

Do

37

Sub-Health Centre, Bhandal Bet

2

2

Do

Do

Do

38

Sub-Health Centre, Nadala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

39

Sub-Health Centre, Abrahimwala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

40

Sub-Health Centre, Dhaliwal Bet

2

2

Do

Do

Do

41

Sub-Health Centre, Hamera

2

2

Do

Do

Do

42

Sub-Health Centre, Lakhan ke Padde

2

2

Do

Do

Do

43

Sub-Health Centre, Ramgarh

2

2

Do

Do

Do

44

Sub-Health Centre, Ramidi

2

2

Rural

State Public

Kapurthala

45

Sub-Health Centre, Atoli

2

2

Do

Do

Phagwara

46

Sub-Health Centre, Bhulla Rai

2

2

Do

Do

Do

47

Sub-Health Centre, Chak Dhadda

2

2

Do

Do

Do

48

Sub-Health Centre, Domeli

2

2

Do

Do

Do

49

Sub-Health Centre, Hadiabad

2

2

Do

Do

Do

50

Sub-Health Centre, Khajurla

2

2

Do

Do

Do

51

Sub-Health Centre, Madhopur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

52

Sub-Health Centre, Mauli

2

2

Do

Do

Do

53

Sub-Health Centre, Palahi

2

2

Do

Do

Do

54

Sub-Health Centre, Rampur Sunran

2

2

Do

Do

Do

55

Sub-Health Centre, Ranipur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

56

Sub-Health Centre, Rehana Jattan

2

2

Do

Do

Do

57

Sub-Health Centre, Sangatpur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

58

Sub-Health Centre, Wahid

2

2

Do

Do

Do

59

Sub-Health Centre, Dhidwindi

2

2

Do

Do

Sultanpur Lodhi

60

Sub-Health Centre, Dalla

2

2

Do

Do

Do

61

Sub-Health Centre, Haibatpur

2

2

Rural

State Public

Sultanpur Lodhi

62

Sub-health Centre, Jabbowal

2

2

Do

Do

Do

63

Sub-Health Centre, Kalewal

2

2

Do

Do

Do

64

Sub-Health Centre, Mothanwali

2

2

Do

Do

Do

65

Sub-Health Centre, Nasirpur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

66

Sub-Health Centre, Parmjit Pur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

67

Sub-Health Centre, Shatabgarh

2

2

Do

Do

Do

68

Sub-Health Centre, Sujo Kalia

2

2

Do

Do

Do

69

Sub-Health Centre, Talwandi Chaudharan

2

2

Do

Do

Do

70

Sub-Health Centre, Watanwali

2

2

Do

Do

Do

71

E.S.I. Dispensary, Kapurthala

-

-

Urban

Do

Kapurthala

72

Police Lines Dispensary, Kapurthala

-

-

Do

Do

Do

73

Jail Dispensary, Kapurthala

-

-

Do

Do

Do

74

E.S.I. Dispensary, Phagwara

-

-

Do

Do

Phagwara

75

E.S.I. Dispensary, Jagatjit Nagar, Hamira

-

-

Rural

Do

Kapurthala

76

1st Aid Post Railway Creosting plant, Northern Railway Chilwan

-

-

Do

Do

do

 

(Director of Medical Institutions in Punjab State, 1981, issued by the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh, pages 20 to 22)

 

APPENDIX III

(Vide page 272)

Family Planning Clinics in the Kapurthala District, as on 1 January, 1981

SN

Name of Institution and Location

Rural/ Urban

Type of Management

Tahsil

1

Urban Family Welfare Centre, Civil Hospital, Kapurthala

Urban

Government

Kapurthala

2

Rural Family Welfare Centre, Bholath

Rural

Do

Do

3

Rural Family Welfare Centre, Dhilwan

Do

Do

Do

4

Rural Family Welfare Centre, Kala Sanghian

Do

Do

Do

5

Rural Family Welfare Centre, Begowal

Do

Do

Do

6

Rural Family Welfare Centre, Tibba

Do

Do

Sultanpur Lodhi

7

Rural Family Welfare Centre, Panchat

Do

Do

 Phagwara

           (Director of Medical Institutions in Punjab State, 1981 issued by the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh, p. 67)

 

APPENDIX IV

 

Maternity and Child Health Centres in the Kapurthala District, as on

 1 April, 1981

SN

Name of Institution and Location

Rural/ Urban

Type of Management

Tahsil

1

Maternity and Child Health Centre, Hadiabad

Urban

Government

Phagwara

2

Maternity and Child Health Centre, Sahni

Rural

Red Cross

Do

3

Maternity and Child Health Centre, Mirianpur

Do

Do

Sultanpur Lodhi

4

Maternity and Child Health Centre, Nihalgarh

Do

Do

Kapurthala

           (Director of Medical Institutions in Punjab State, 1981 issued by the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh, p. 67)

 

APPENDIX V

List of Ayurvedic/Unani Institutions in the Kapurthala District, as on January, 31, 1982

SN

Name/Place of Location

Ayruvedic/ Unani

Rural/ Urban

Type of Management

Tahsil

1

Kapurthala

Ayurvedic

Urban

Government

Kapurthala

2

Mustafabad

Do

Rural

Do

Do

3

Khojewala

Do

Do

Do

Do

4

Jaid

Do

Do

Do

Do

5

Lakhan Ke Padde

Do

Do

Do

Do

6

Saidowal

Do

Do

Do

Do

7

Sidhwan

Do

Do

Do

Do

8

Dhaliwal Bet

Do

Do

Do

Do

9

Khanowal

Do

Do

Do

Do

10

Khanowal

Do

Do

Do

Do

11

Thuon

Do

Do

Do

Do

12

Rampur Jagir

Do

Do

Do

Sultanpur Lodhi

13

Busowal

Do

Do

Do

Do

14

Lakhwaria

Do

Do

Do

Do

15

Sultanpur Lodhi

Do

Urban

Do

Do

16

Phagwara

Do

Do

Do

 Phagwara

17

J.C.T. Phagwara

Do

Do

Do

Do

18

Panchat

Do

Rural

Do

Do

19

Chiheru

Do

Do

Do

Do

20

Manak

Do

Do

Do

Do

21

Palahi

Do

Do

Do

Do

22

Pandori

Do

Do

Do

Do

23

Bhagana

Do

Do

Do

Do

24

Ranipur

Do

Do

Do

Do

25

Sekhupur

Do

Do

Do

Do

26

Khera

Unani

Do

Do

Do

27

Mirzapur

Do

Do

Do

Kapurthana

(Source:  District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer, Kapurthala)

 

 

CHAPTER XVII

OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES

v      

Labour Welfare

v      

Prohibition

v      

Advancement of Scheduled Caste and Backward Classes

v      

Other Social Welfare Activities

v      

Public Trusts, Charitable Endowments and Muslim Wakafs

 

 

           Education, medical and public health services, etc., being relatively the more important social services, have been dealt with separately in the previous chapters.  Among other measures covering only a section of the population, mention may be made of labour welfare, prohibition and advancement of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.

 

(a)       Labour Welfare

           Labour welfare is mainly concerned with the improvement of health, general well-being, safety and productive efficiency of the worker.  It also includes the facilities and amenities as may be provided in, or in the vicinity of undertakings to enable the labour force to work in healthy and congenial atmosphere instrumental in increasing the efficiency.  Besides, it includes provision of canteens and cafeterias, recreational facilities, and provision of rest rooms.  The welfare also entails arrangements to and from work and the provision of residential accommodation, crèches, nurseries, primary and high schools, etc., for the children of the workers.

           The State Government set up the Punjab Industrial Safety Council in May 1969, on the pattern of the National Safety Council.  It is a voluntary organization having no political content.  Factory owners and the associations of workers, government departments and all other persons who are interested in safety measures can become members of this council which promotes methods and procedures for assuring safety and health of industrial workers.

           Labour Legislation. –With a view to ameliorating the condition of the working class and to safeguard their interests, a number of social and legislative measures have been undertaken.  They are important not only from the humanitarian point of view, but also because they contribute to enhanced productivity.  Various Acts which have been adopted and brought into force are mainly connected with the working conditions of labour, their safety, minimum wages and other emoluments, other benefits and facilities, provisions for settlement of disputes between the employers and the employees and the like.  After 1947, more such labour welfare laws were enacted and amendments to some of the existing ones were also made so as to make them more beneficial.

           The various Central and State labour laws in force in the district are: the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923; the Trade Unions act, 1926; the Payment of Wages Act, 1936; the Employment of Children Act, 1938; the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946; the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947; the Factories Act, 1948; the Minimum Wages Act, 1948; the Working Journalist’s (Condition of Service and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1955; the Punjab Industrial Housing Act, 1956; the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958; the Motor Transport Workers Act, 1951; the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961; the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965; the Punjab Labour Welfare Funds Act, 1965; the Punjab Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays, Casual and Sick Leave) Act, 1965; the Contact Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970; the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972; and the Fair Wage Clause and East Punjab Public Works Department Contractors Labour Regulations.

           The above mentioned enactments contain various welfare measures for the labour and inter alia, provide for regulation of conditions and hours of work, rest interval, leave with wages, national and festival holidays, casual and sick leave, overtime payment, safety from accidents, health and sanistation, prohibition of employment of children below a certain age and of women at night, regular payment of wages, payment of minimum wages, payment of minimum bonus, payment of gratuity, formation of trade unions for the purpose of collective bargaining, certification of standing orders by employers for clearly defining the service conditions of workers, redressal of grievances, settlement of industrial disputes, etc.

           Prior to Independence, there was no separate organization in the State to look after the interests of the industrial labour and other workers and to deal with their day-to-day problems.  It was only in 1949 that a separate Labour Department was set up under the charge of a Labour Commissioner.  The primary functions of the State Labour Department are to maintain peaceful industrial relations in the State and also to further the labour welfare measures, both statutory and non-statutory.  Subject to certain limitations, it ensures that the working conditions for labour conform to a certain minimum of safety and comfort; that the wages are adequate and regularly paid; and that injuries sustained during the performance of duties are properly treated and suitably compensated.  The department also seeks to provide for medical care and model living for as many labourers and their dependents as possible.  The prevention of industrial disputes and their settlement, as and when these arise, form the main function of the department.

           The Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer, Kapurthala (Rural) exercises jurisdiction over Kapurthala and Sultanpur Lodhi tahsils except Kapurthala Town which is under the jurisdiction of the Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer, Jalandhar, while Phagwara Tahsil comes under the jurisdiction of the Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer, Hoshiarpur.  There are two Labour Inspectors Grade, I, and one Labour Inspector Grade II, at Kapurthala.  Besides, there are a Labour Inspector Grade I, a Labour Inspector, Grade II, and an Inspector of Factories with headquarters at Phagwara.  The Labour Inspector Grade I, Phagwara, in addition to looking after the work of Phagwara Tahsil also attends to the work relating to Phillaur Tahsil of the Jallandhar District, which falls under his jurisdiction.  The Labour Inspector Grade II, Phagwara, looks after the enforcement of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958 at Phagwara.  He is also responsible for the enforcement of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, and the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 in respect of shops and commercial establishments covered by the said Act.  The Inspector of Factories, at Phagwara, besides, the work relating to Phagwara Tahsil looks after the enforcement of the Factories Act, 1948, in the Phillaur Tahsil of Jalandhar District.  The Inspector of Factories, Circle II Jalandhar, besides, the work relating to the area of Jalandhar District looks after the enforcement of Factories Act, 1948, in the Kapurthala District except tahsil Phagwara.

 

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