Introduction

“Suggestion Schemes” are being operated in many progressive industrial undertakings in the country for the last several years. These “ Schemes” operate on plant wide basis. Good suggestions leading to outstanding achievement or good performance on the part of workers in increasing productivity, quality, safety, working conditions, import substitution etc. are suitably rewarded by the Management at the enterprise level with financial & non-financial incentives including prizes & citation. The quantum of the prize money is generally related to the anticipated annual savings in the cost of production, resulting from the implementation of the suggestion at the plant level.

With the growing tempo of industrialization, it was considered desirable to provide for public recognition of outstanding achievement on the part of the workers, at the national level, so that, the workers could feel that they were accorded a place similar to that of other recipient of Rashtriya Puraskars for outstanding achievements in the other walks of life. The Government of India, Ministry of Labour & Employment has, therefore, instituted Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar Scheme (previously known as Shram Vir National Awards) in the year 1965 for rewarding & recognizing the efforts of workers from the industrial undertakings at the national level. Since then this scheme has been in operation. This scheme is applicable for workers employed in the factories & docks.

Basis of Awards

The scheme is open to such Industrial Undertakings where Suggestion Schemes in the form of Quality Circles, General Suggestion Scheme, Safety Suggestion Scheme, Kaizen Schemes & Small Group Activities etc. are in operation. Suggestions accepted by the management and adopted during the previous calendar year in respect of any of the following qualify for the consideration of Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP).

• Inventions and improvements that bring about saving in materials including fuel & power reduction in production time and improvement in the utilization of plant and equipment
• Improving ways and means for using indigenous materials in the place of imported ones (Import substitution)
• Better utilization of machinery & equipment, waste or scrap material for raising productivity
• Lightening physical efforts/ergonomic interventions in certain operations and thereby leading to reduced fatigue & increased productivity
• Improvement of working conditions including safety, health and welfare, safety standards, safety devices and environmental conditions and improvement in methods for prevention of occupational diseases
• Increased efficiency of the organization and management
• Improvement in quality of products or their designs & packing methods
• Making general working environment safe

Number of Awards

There are Total Twenty eight (28) Awards under the following three classes

• CLASS “A” OR PRATHAM SHRENI - (5) FIVE CASH AWARDS OF Rs. 75,000/-* EACH
• CLASS “B” OR DWITIYA SHRENI - (8) EIGHT CASH AWARDS OF Rs. 50,000/-* EACH
• CLASS “C” OR TRITIYA SHRENI - (15) FIFTEEN CASH AWARDS OF Rs.25,000/-* EACH

REVISED PRIZE MONEY

Procedure For The Grant of Awards

Each year applications are invited in the prescribed format for the grant of awards through advertisement in important national & local newspapers. Respective managements of the organization where these suggestion schemes are in operation are required to send the applications on behalf of the workers. The accepted applications are evaluated by both Internal and External Evaluation Committees consisting of Three Experts in each with specialization in Mech. Engg./Production Engg./ Indust.Engg./ Elect.Engg./Chemical Engg./Ergonomics/Envir. Engg/General Magt. The applications so evaluated by both the Committees are adjudged by a Tripartite Awards Committee appointed by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, solely on the basis of their technical ability and expertise. The Tripartite Awards Committee consists of representatives from Government, Employers & Employees.

Awards Distribution Function

The VishwaKarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP) for each Performance Year will be granted to the awardees by the Hon’ble Union Labour & Employment Minister, Govt. of India at a special function to be held in New Delhi. Usually, the function is held each year on 17th September to coincide with the Vishwakarma Day.