Hospitals,
Primary Health Centres/Subsidiary Health Centres and Dispensaries
During
1988-89, Rs 2,57,02,763* has been incurred on hospitals, primary health
centres, subsidiary health centres and dispensaries and other health services
in the district. All these institutions are under the administrative control of
the Civil Surgeon, Patiala, who in turn is under the administrative control of
the Director, Health Services, Punjab, Chandigarh.
Allopathic
Medical Institutions.—On 1 April 1989, there were 201 allopathic
institutions in the district. Their tahsil-wise, and area-wise breakup is as
under:
|
Tahsil |
Rural |
Urban |
Total |
|
Patiala |
32 |
26 |
58 |
|
Rajpura |
47 |
8 |
55 |
|
Fatehgarh
Sahib |
30 |
8 |
38 |
|
Nabha |
27 |
6 |
33 |
|
Samana |
15 |
2 |
17 |
*The
expenditure of Rajendra Hospital, Patiala, Mata Kaushalya Hospital, Patiala and
T B Hospital, Patiala has not been included in it.
The
management-wise breakup of the above allopathic institutions is 195 State
Public, 2 Local Government and 4 Voluntary Organization. The list of hospitals
primary health centres, subsidiary health centres and dispensaries in the
district is given in Appendix II on pages 528-540.
The
particulars regarding the family welfare centres/clinics and maternity and
child health centres in the district are given in Appendix III and IV on pages
541 and 543, respectively.
Ayurvedic
and Unani Medical Institutions.—During 1988-89, 49 Ayurvedic and 1 Unani
Institutions were functioning in the district. In each institution, there were
1 Vaid/Hakim, 1 Up-Valid/Dispenser and 1 trained Dai. The tahsil-wise breakup
of the institutions is as under :
|
Tahsil |
Number of Institutions |
|
|
|
Ayurvedic |
Unani |
|
Patiala |
7 |
-- |
|
Rajpura |
18 |
-- |
|
Fatehgarh
Sahib |
10 |
-- |
|
Nabha |
6 |
1 |
|
Samana |
8 |
-- |
|
Total |
49 |
1 |
All
these institutions are managed by the Government. Their detailed list is given
in Appendix V at page 544. In addition to these institutions, there is a
Government Ayurvedic Hospital functioning at Patiala. Besides, there is a
Government Pharmacy and Stores at Patiala, the descriptions is given below:
Government
Pharmacy and Stores, Patiala.—The Pharmacy prepares Ayurvedic and Unani
medicines for State owned Ayurvedic/Unani hospitals and dispensaries. It is
maintained by the Ayurvedic Department, Punjab.
It is
under the control of Superitendent of Pharmacy and Stores, who is assisted by 1
Deputy Controller (Finance & Accounts), 6 Vaids 1 Hakim, 10 Dispensers, 1
Office Superintendent, 20 Pharmacy Prepares and miscellaneous Class III and
Class IV staff.
The
Value of Ayurvedic/Unani medicines prepared in the Pharmacy, during 1981-82 to
1988-89 is given as under :
|
Year |
Value
of Medicines Prepared (Rs) |
|
1981-82 |
8,18,978 |
|
1982-83 |
8,98,407 |
|
1983-84 |
12,28,813 |
|
1984-85 |
12,89,422 |
|
1985-86 |
13,68,831 |
|
1986-87 |
11,67,363 |
|
1987-88 |
13,28,601 |
|
1988-89 |
18,52,576 |
(Source
: Superintendent, Government Pharmacy and Stores Patiala)
Homoeopathic
Medical Institutions.—The Directorate of Homoeopathic has been separated from
Ayurvedic Department with effect from 1 May 1980. As on 1 April 1989, there
were 7 homoeopathic dispensaries in the district at Bhindian Wali Gali,
Patiala, Khalsa Mohalla, Patiala, Dera Bassi, Fatehgarh Chhanna, Devigarh, Samana
and Rajpura. These dispensaries are functioning under the adminstrative control
of Joint Secretary, Health, who is Head of the Homoeopathic Department, Punjab.
In each of these dispensaries, there is one Physician In charge, 1 Dispenser
and one Dai, besides Class IV staff. During the year 1989, the number of
patients given treatment in these dispensaries was 69,687.
Government
Hospitals and Nursing Homes
Mata
Kaushalaya Hospital, Patiala.—This hospital was opened in 1890 then known
as Lady Dufferin Hospital. It name was changed as Mata Kaushalaya Hospital in
March 1987. It has 200 beds for feamles and 14 for chidren. The hospital is
manned by 1 Medical Superintendent, 2 Senior Medical Officers, 1 Senior Dental
Surgeon, 13 Medical Officers, and miscellaneous Class III and Class IV
employees.
The
hospital provides general medical, maternity and gynaecology, family planning
and dental facilities. It gave treatment to 67,247 outdoor and 7,194 indoor
patients during 1988.
General
Shivdev Singh, Civil Hospital, Nabha.—This hospital was opened in 1937 and was
upgraded to 100 beded hospital (60 for males and 40 for females) in 1974. The
hospital is manned by the 2 Senior Medical Officers, 11 Medical Officers, 21
Staff Nurses, 2 Nursing Sisters, 7 Pharmacists, 3 Laboratory Technicians, 2
Radiographers, 1 Lady Health Visitor, 1 T B Health Visitor, 6 Dais, 1 Dental Mechanic, 1 Family
Planning Field Worker, 2 A N Ms 1 Dark Room Assistant, 1 Laboratory Attendant
and other allied Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.
All
general facilities including blood bank are available in the hospital. The
number of indoor and outdoor patients treated in the hospital during 1988-89
was 2,616 and 49,520 respectively.
Women
Hospital, Nabha.—This hospital was opened on 9 March 1937. It
is a 32 bedded female hospital. It is manned by 2 Senior Medical Officers, 11
Medical Officers, 1 Dental Surgeon, 1 Dental Mechanic, 3 Nursing Sisters, 21
Staff Nurses, 7 Pharmacists, 1 Matron and miscellaneous Class III and Class IV
staff.
Rajendra
Hospital, Patiala.—The hospital was opened in 1954. It has 907. It has 907 beds
(405 males and 502 females). The hospital is manned by a Medical
Superintendent, who is assisted by 10 Doctors, 346 Nurses, 39 Para-Medical
staff, besides other miscellaneous Class III and Class IV staff. In addition to
this, a large number of Doctors work in the hospital from the Medical College
side.
The
hospital provides surgical, obsterics and gynaecology, paediotrics, eye,
radiology, dental, plastic surgery, ultrasonagrphy, radiotherapy, blood
transpatients treated in the hospital, during 1988-89 was 5,35,493 and 42,371,
respectively.
Civil
Hospital, Samana.—This hospital was opened on 23 January
1971. It has 25 beds (13 for males and 12 for feamles). The hospital is manned
by 2 Doctors, 5 Staff Nurses, 3 Pharmacists, 1 Laboratory Assistance and 1
Radiographer, besides other Class III and Class IV staff.
The
hospital provides medical anti-rabic, X-ray, post-mortum etc. facilities. It
gave treatment to 56,877 outdoor and 4,423 indoor patients during 1988.
Ajit
Parshad Jain Civil Hospital, Rajpura.—This hospital was opened on 6 March 1954.
It is a 50 bedded (25 for males and 25 for females) hospital. The hospital is
manned by 1 Senior Medical Officer, 8 Doctors, 8 Nurses and 50 other staff
members.
The
medical facilities available in the hospital are gynaecology, maternity,
dental, family planning, radiology, pathological investigation, etc. A blood
bank is also functioning in the hospital. The number of indoor and outdoor
patients treated in the hospital during the year 1988-89 was 4,924 and 50,707,
respectively.
Civil
Hospital, Mandi Gobindgarh.—This hospital was opened on 1 August 1956.
It has 50 beds (25 for males and 25 for females). The hospital is manned by 1
Senior Medical Officer, 6 Doctors including a Dental Surgeon, 8 Staff Nurses,
besides miscellaneous Class III and Class IV staff.
All
the general facilities are available in the hospital. The number of outdoor and
indoor patients treated in the hospital during 1989 was 27,462 and 2,586
respectively.
Civil
Hospital, Bassi Pathana.—This hospital was opened in the first
decade of 20th century. It has 25 beds (15 males and 10 females).
The hospital is manned by 1 Senior Medical Officer, 1 Medical Officer and 5 Nurses
including Nursing Sisters and allied Class III and miscellaneous Class IV
staff.
The
hospital provides medical, gynaecology, dental and family planning facilities.
It gave treatment to 19,255 outdoor and 879 indoor patients during 1988-89.
Civil
Hospital, Amloh.—It is a 25 bedded (15 for males and 10 for
females) hospital. It is manned by 1 Senior Medical Officer, 1 Medical Officer,
4 Nurses and other Class III and Class IV employees.
All
general medical facilities are available in the hospital. The hospital gave
treatment to 14,045 outdoor and 390 indoor patients during 1988-89.
Government
Ayurvedic Hospital, Patiala.—It was upgraded from a dispensary to a hospital in
1953-54. It is attached to the Government Ayurvedic College, Patiala, for the
clinical training of the students of the College. This hopsital also provides
medical facilities (both indoor and outdoor) to the public. It has 106 beds.
The hospital is manned by a Superintendent Ayurvedic, who is assisted by 4
Resident Physicians, 2 Assistant Resident Physicians, 5 Vaids, 17 Dispensers, 1
Masuer, 2 Nursing Sisters, 14 Staff Nurses, 2 Dais 1 X-Ray Operator, 1
Superintendent Grade IV, 3 Clerks, 1 Accountant, 1 Store Keeper, 1 Assistant
Store Keeper, besides miscellaneous Class IV staff.
The
number of indoor and outdoor patients treated in the hospital during 1988-89
was 1,002 and 38,664, respectively.
Blood
Bank
There
is a blood bank in the district at the Rajendra Hospital, Patiala. It was
started in 1954. In the beginning, blood was collected from the paid donors
duly authorised by the government. But this practice was discontinued in 1972,
as the blood collected from paid donors was not upto the standard and disease
free. The blood is now collected from the voluntary donors and relatives of the
patients. The blood bank at Rajendra Hospital is one of the best in the Punjab
State. It has distinction of maximum collection and supply of blood to the
patients. The work done by it with respect to the collection and transfusion of
blood during the last eight years, i.e. from 1981-1988 is given in Appendix VI
on page 546. Besides, blood bank facilities are available in Ajit Parshad Jain,
Civil Hospital, Rajpura and General Shivdev Singh, Civil Hospital, Nabha.
Prevention
of Adulteration of Foodstuffs
To
prevent the adulteration of foodstuffs, the Punjab Government passed the
Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. It replaced the Punjab Pure Food
Act, 1929. All concerns dealing in sale, stock and preparation of edible
articles are subject to inspection by the Food Inspectors, Medical Officers and
Civil Surgeon. In order to ensure preparation and sale of genuine and pure
foodstuffs, edibles and drinks special powers have been entrusted to the
inspecting staff to seize samples. These samples are sent to the Food and
Health Laboratory at Chandigarh for chemical examination and analysis. Those
found guilty of adulteration are prosecuted.
Environmental
hygiene has great bearing on the health of the people. The sanitation of towns
and villages, streets and lanes, the disposal of the kitchen wastes and human
excreta are some of the major health problems. To solve these problems and save
the people from diseases, the Government pays much attention for the sanitation
and conservancy of the cities/towns and villages. The Government of India
commissioned a number of schemes for this purpose, such as National Water
Supply and Sanitation Programme, creation of Community Development Blocks, etc.
With the creation of development blocks, there has been all-round activity for
the development of villages with regard to link roads, pavement of streets,
drainage and clean water supply by providing hand-pumps, tube-wells and wells.
The checking of food adulteration, school health services and measures to
control communicable diseases are some of the factors which have contributed
towards the sanitation and environmental hygiene in the rural as well as urban
areas.
(i)
Rural Sanitation and Water Supply.—In
rural areas, the block development staff and primary health centre units are
responsible for sanitation of the villages. Efforts are being made to provide
tapped drinking water in the villages besides installing hand-pumps and
remodelling of old wells. The installation of tube-wells in the countryside has
reduced the use of open wells for drinking water. Gram panchayats also look
after the sanitation of villages. For providing better and hygienic living
condition in the villages, the Model Village Scheme has been started. Under
this scheme, a few villages are selected as Model Villages where the streets
are paved, drains are constructed and arrangements are made for the sullage
water. During 1988-89, the gram panchayats constructed 61.21 km of drains in
the district.
Other social services
The
primary object of the modern welfare State is to promote the general well-being
of the people. In its modern socialistic pattern, social services hold a unique
position. Services like education, housing, technical education, health, labour
welfare are the main social services or the services which are only meant for
the uplift of the depressed sections of the society may be placed under the
category of social welfare services. The Central and State Governments
endeavour jointly to ameliorate the lot of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes. Besides the Government, there are voluntary social welfare
organisations which play a vital role in the social services. Social services
like labour welfare, advancement of Scheduled Castes and which Backward
Classes, welfare of old, infirm and destitute, which are not mentioned
elsewhere in the Gazetteers, are described in this chapter.
Labour
welfare means to improve the working and living conditions of the workers.
According to the National Commission on labour (India) 1969, the concept of
‘Welfare’is necessarily dynamic, bearing a different interpretation from
country to country and fromtime to time and even in the same country, according
to its value system, social institutions, degree of industrialisation and
general level of social and economic development. Even within one country, its
contents may be different from region to region.
Labour
welfare is concerned with 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
cateteria, recreational facilities, and provision of rest rooms. It also
entails arrangements for transport to and from work and the provision of
residential accommodation, creches, nurseries, balwadis, primary and high schools, etc. for the children of the
workers.
The
Punjab is the first State in the country to have set up the Punjab Industrial
Safety Council in May 1969, on the pattern of the National Safety Council. It
is a voluntary organisation with no political affiliation. Factory owners and
associations of workers, Government departments and all other interested in the
safety measures in industry can become members of this council which shall
advise, organize, and encourage and promote methods and procedures for assuring
safety and health of the industrial workers.
Labour
Legislation.—With a view of safeguarding the interests of the working
classes, labour legislation is necessary to tackle economic and social
problems, as civil laws in general do not particularly deal with labour
problems. The labour laws are motivated by humanitarian approach as propounded
by the International Labour Organization and are based on the principles of
social Justice. Various measures have been undertaken to safeguard the
interests of the working classes and to enhance their output which is possible
in a congenial atmosphere. These measures made a much headway after the
attainment of Independence in 1947. Many new laws were enacted and amendments
to some of the existing ones were also made to suit the modern requirements.
The State Government follows the policy of Government of India, which is based
on the principles enunciated in the provisions laid down in the International
Labour Code of the International Labour Organization. Under the Constitution,
enactment as well as the administration of labour laws is the responsibility of
both the Union and State Governments.
The
various Central and State 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 Collection of Statistics Act, 1953; The
Working Journalists (Conditions of Services) and Miscellaneous Provision Act,
1955; The Working Journalist (Fixation of Rates of Wage) Act, 1958; The
Maternity Benefit Act, 1961; The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961; The Payment
of Bonus Act, 1965; The Personal Injuries (Compulsory Insurance) Act, 1969; The
Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970; The Payment of Gratuity
Act, 1972; The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976; The Sales Promotion Employees
(Conditions of Services) Act, 1976; The Punjab Shops and Commercial
Establishments Act, 1955; The Punjab Labour Welfare Funds Act, 1965; The Punjab
Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays, Causal and Sick
Leave) Act, 1965; The Punjab Industrial Housing Act, 1956; and The Fair Wages
Clause and East Punjab Public Works Departments Contractors Labour Regulations.
These labour enactments contain various welfare measures for the labour.
Before
1947, there was no separate organization in the State to look after the
day-to-day problems and interests of the industrial labour and other workers. A
separate labour department under the charge of Labour Commissioner was set up
in the State in 1949. The main functions of the Labour Department are to look
after the interests of the industrial workers, 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, is one of the major
functions of the department.
There
is one Inspector of Factories, posted at Patiala having jurisdiction over the
entire district of Patiala.
There
are 2 Labour-cum-Conciliation Officers in the district posted at Patiala. They
exercise their jurisdiction over the whole district in their respective fields.
The Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer (Industry) deals with the industrial
disputes relating to urban areas. The Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer (Rural)
is responsible for the implementation of various labour laws in the unorganised
sector (rural areas) relating to construction works, brick kilns, rice
shellers, etc. located outside the municipal limits. The
Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer (Industry) takes steps when there is an
apprehension of an industrial dispute. He is empowered to inspect any document
of the factory which he thinks necessary. When there is dispute between
industrial workers and employers, his role is to lead them in such a way so that
they may arrive at settlement amicably. In case they fail to settle the
dispute, the matter is referred through Government in the labour Department to
Labour Court, Patiala, or the Industrial Tribunal, Punjab, Chandigarh as the
case may be.
The
staff functioning under the control of Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer
(Industry) comprises 3 Labour Inspectors Grade-I, posted at Patiala, Rajpura
and Chandigarh. They are responsible for the implementation of labour laws
within their respective jurisdiction. The Labour Inspector Grade-II, posted at
Patiala, is responsible for the implementation of Punjab Shops and Commercial
Establishments Act, 1958, Minimum Wages Act, 1948; Payment of Bonus Act, 1936
with jurisdiction over the towns of Patiala, Samana, Patran and Sangrur. The
staff under the control of Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer (Rural) is 1 Labour
Inspector Grade-I posted at Patiala. He is responsible for the implementation
of labour laws in the rural areas. The Labour Inspectors Grade-II, posed at
Nabha and Rajpura are responsible for the implementation of Punjab Shops and
Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and Payment of
Bonus Act, 1936.
The
salient features of the Central and State labour laws in force in the district
are given below:
Central
Legislation.—The Factories Act, 1948, regulates the working conditions of the
workers employed in factories and also provides for health measures, safety
from accidents, canteens, shelters, rest rooms, working hours, intervals for
rest, leave with wages etc. The payment of Wages Act, 1936, ensures regular and
prompt payment of wages and thus to prevent exploitation of workers from
imposition of arbitrary fines and deductions from wages by the employers. The
Trade Unions Act, 1926, confers legal and corporate status on the registered
trade Unions. The Act provides immunity from civil and criminal liability to
trade union executives and members for bonafide
trade union activities. The Minimum Wages Act, 1948, provides for the statutory
fixation of minimum rates of wages in certain scheduled employments where
workers are un-organised. The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961, provides for
the welfare of motor transport workers and regulates the conditions of their
work. The Workemen’s Compensation Act, 1923, imposes an obligation upon the
employer to pay compensation to the workers in cases of accidents arising out
of an in the course of employment which may result in death or total
disablement or partial disablement for a period exceeding three days. The
Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, regulates the employment of women for certain
periods before and after child birth. The Industrial Employment (Standing
Orders) Act, 1946, requires the employers in industrial establishments to
define with sufficient precision, the condition of employment and make these
known to the workmen employed by them. The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947,
mainly provides for the investigation and settlement of industrial disputes or
differences between employers and employees, or between employers and workmen
or between employers and employees, or between employers and workmen or between
workmen and workmen, which are connected with the employment or non-employment
or the term of employment or with the conditions of labour of any person.
State
Legislation.—The Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958,
regulates the working conditions, hours of work, rest intervals and weekly rest
as also holidays, leave and overtime of workers employed in the shops and
commercial establishments. The Act also provides for opening and closing hours
of establishments and entitles the employees in the event of a violation of any
of these provisions, to go to courts to get their grievances redressed. The
Punjab Labour Welfare Funds Act, 1965, provides for the setting up of a Labour
Welfare Board and appointment of a Welfare Commissioner. The unclaimed wages of
the employees and accumulation of fines have to be credited to the Labour
Welfare Funds out of which the Board is to finance its various welfare
activities. A Labour Welfare Board is functioning in the State at Chandigarh.
The Labour Commissioner Punjab, Chandigarh, is the Welfare Commissioner under
the Act. The Punjab Industrial Establishment (National and Festival Holidays,
Causal and Sick Leave) Act, 1965, provides for the grant of 7 days national and
festival holidays, causal leave on full wages and 14 days sick leave on half
wages to all employees covered under the Act.
In
order to secure proper benefits under the various labour laws, an adequate
enforcement machinery works under the Labour Commissioner, Punjab Chandigarh.
He is assisted, at the district level, by Labour-cum-Conciliation Officers,
Factory Inspectors, Labour Inspectors and other miscellaneous staff as
mentioned in Labour Legislation.
Industrial
Relations.—The relations between employees and employers are governed by
the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The machinery provided under the Act is two
fold; first, the prevention of disputes by providing internal machinery in the
form of Works Committee and Welfare Officers, second, the provision of
permanent Conciliation Officer, the Conciliation Board, the Court of Inquiry,
and the Industrial Tribunal. The Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer, the
Conciliation Board, the Court of Inquiry, and the Industiral Tribunal. The
Labour-cum-Concilation Officer, Patiala, is responsible for enforcing it in the
district. His job is to bring amicable settlement and foster good relations
between management and workers by removing all the causes of friction by timely
redress of the grievances of the parties. Emphasis is laid on settlement of
disputes through direct negotiations. The Industrial Relations Committee, consisting of the representatives of the
Labour Department, employers and employees maintains harmonious industrial
relations in the district.
Despite
the efforts to resolve difficulties and to promote good relations and harmony
between the employers and workmen, strikes do occur. But during 1981-82 to 1988-89,
no major strike occurred in the district.
Trade
Unions.—Trade Unions are voluntary association of employees formed to
promote and protect their interest through collective action and securing them
a better and healthier status in industry as well as in society. These are
continued associations of wage earners for the purpose of maintaining or
improving the conditions of their working lives. The existence of a trade union
is indispensable because the workers require help in time of sickness or death,
and protection against suffering and want when they are out of job, or when
they are too old to work any more. Further, the trade union provides an
adequate machinery for setting the relations between the employers and the
employees. Trade unions, developed on proper lines, lessen violent class
conflicts and are beneficial to the employers, the employees, the State and the
public. They have acquired an important place in the economic, political and
social life of the community.
Since Independence, there has been a considerable
growth of trade union movement in the district and, as a result there has been
a constant increase in the number of registered trade unions. The particulars
of trade unions, registered under the Indian Trade Union Act, 1926, functioning
in the Patiala District, are given in Appendix I on pages 575-581.
Subsidized
Industrial Housing Scheme.—During the First Five-Year Plan,
Government of India, after consulting the State Government and the
representative of employees and workers, finalised the Subsidized Industiral
Housing Scheme in 1952. Under this scheme, three types of tenements have been
included for subsidies and loans, those to be constructed by the State
Government or statutory bodies, such as improvement trusts or development boards,
those to be constructed by the industrial employers for the use of workers of
their establishments; and those to be constructed by the colonies at Rajpura
and Mandi Gobindgarh having 40 and 100 quarters, respectively have been
constructed for the industrial workers under the scheme. An amount of Rs 10 is
charged as rent per month from the worker. There are four Labour Welfare
Centres functioning in the district, one each at Patiala, Rajpura, Nabha and
Mandi Gobindgarh. In these centres, training in cutting, tailoring and
embroidery, etc. is imparted to the wives and daughters of the industrial
workers.
The
Factories Act, 1948.—All factories are required to be registered
under the Factories Act, 1948. It codified for the first time the old
international principle that none should employ any worker on any manufacturing
process without ensuring his health, safety and welfare. The Act provides for
health measures, safety from accidents, shelters, rest rooms, working hours,
intervals for rest, leave with wages, etc. With a view to ensuring the
enforcement of these provisions, the inspectorate staff is required to carry
out a minimum number of inspections every month in the specified proforma. In
case of minor violations, inspectorate staff issues warnings and notices to the
managements, whereas, in cases of serious or repeated violations, necessary
prsecutions are launched against the defaulters in the courts of law. To
improve efficiency and quality of inspection work, at least two test checks
over the inspections conducted by the Labour Inspectors are carried out every
month.
In
1989, the number of factories registered under Sections 2 and 85 of the
Factories Act, 1948 was 691 and 140, respectively. However, the number of
registered working factories in the district during the same year was 809 and
the number of workers employed in these factories was 35,738.
Employees’
Provident Fund Scheme.—Compulsory Provident Fund Scheme was frame
by the Government of India to provide security to factory workers under the
Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. It was
introduced on 1 November 1952. In the beginning, it was applicable to the
factories employing 50 or more persons, but this limit was lowered late on and
factories/establishments employing 20 or more persons were covered under this
scheme. Every employee of factory/establishments to which the employees’
Provident Fund Scheme is applicable, eligible for membership of the fund after
completion of 6 months continuous service or 120 days of actual work, whichever
is earlier. The provident fund contribution was deducted at the rate of 6¼ per
cent from the monthly wages of the employees subscribing to the fund and an
equal amount was contributed by the employers. The entire amount is deposited
with the State Bank of India in Employees’ Provident Fund Accounts. The rate of
contribution was enhanced from 6¼ per cent to 8 per cent in January 1963. The
Number of factories/establishments covered under the Act in the Patiala
District, as on 31 March 1989 was 641 and the total number of subscribers to
the scheme was 29, 832.
The
Regional Provident Fund Commissioner at Chandigarh is responsible for the
implementation of the scheme in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Union
Territory of Chandigarh. He is assisted by a number of Inspectors in the field
who execute Government policies.
The subscriber can withdraw money from his provident fund for certain
approved purposes. He is also allowed to withdraw the full amount standing to
his credit in the fund on completing 15
years of membership, or on attaining the age of 55 years.