Introduction

To give recognition to good safety performance on the part of Industrial Establishments and to stimulate and maintain the interest of both the managements and the workers in accident prevention and safety promotion programmes, the Government of India instituted National Safety Awards(NSA) in the year 1965. Initially the NSA was instituted for factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948 which work One million man-hours or more during the contest year. From the year 1971, separate schemes were introduced for factories working less than One million manhours and also for Ports. From the year 1978 two more schemes were introduced for factories working more than one lakh and less than two and half lacs manhours during each year of the contest period. Further, the schemes which existed prior to 1978 were modified in 1978 as per the decision of the Awards Committee specially constituted for this purpose by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Govt. of India. At present there are twelve schemes whose details are furnished as below. These schemes are operated by the Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Mumbai, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.

The Schemes I to X are applicable to the Factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948, Construction Sites under the Building & Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and Installations under Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The Schemes XI to XII are applicable to establishments under Ports.

Basis of Awards

The Schemes I to X are applicable to the Factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948, Construction Sites under the Building & Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and Installations under Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The Schemes XI to XII are applicable to establishments under Ports.

Scheme I : Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate

There is one Winner and one Runner-up in each of the 15 Groups of industries as given in the Schedule which achieve the lowest average weighted accident frequency rate over a period of three preceding consecutive years ending with the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit. The weighted frequency rate is the sum of

• The number of non-fatal accidents per million man hours worked.

• The number of total fatal accidents per million man hours worked multiplied by ten and

• No. of total permanent disabled cases per million man hours worked multiplied by ten.

Scheme II : Based on Accident Free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 15 groups of industries as given in the Schedule which has worked the largest number of man hours, without any fatal/non-fatal accident/total permanent disability during the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

For Factories/construction Sites/installations Under Aerb, Working Less Than One Million Man hours Subject to a Minimum of Half a Million Man hours.

Scheme III : Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate

There is one Winner and one Runner-up in each of the 11 Groups of industries as given in the Schedule which achieve the lowest average weighted accident frequency rate over a period of three preceding consecutive years ending with the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

For Factories/construction Sites/installations Under Aerb, Working Less Than Half Million Ma hours Subject to a Minimum of One Quarter Million Man hours

Scheme II : Based on Accident Free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 15 groups of industries as given in the Schedule which has worked the largest number of man hours, without any fatal/non-fatal accident/total permanent disability during the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

For Factories/construction Sites/installations Under Aerb, Working Less Than One Million Man hours Subject to a Minimum of Half a Million Man hours.

National Safety Awards (N.S.A.)

The National Safety Awards (N.S.A) was instituted in the year 1965, NSA is meant to give recognition to good safety performance on the part of Industrial Establishments and to stimulate and maintain the interest of both the managements and the workers in accident prevention and safety promotion programmes.

The awards are given based on Frequency Rate of accidents and accident - free period. The Schemes I to X are applicable to the factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948,Construction sites under the Building & Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996,Installations under Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The Schemes XI & XII are applicable to Stevedores, Port Authorities and other employers of all the major ports. Under each schemes, the Winner and Runner up will be presented a Shield and a Certificate of Merit. A total of 248 awards are given under different schemes for Industries and Major Ports, as mentioned below:

• 124 Winners in Awards Schemes I to XII.

• 124 Runner-ups in Awards Schemes I to XII.

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 :

Revised Price Money

• 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

Procedure for the Grants 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.

Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar

VRP Appln. Recd.&Awards granted for past 15 years

NSA Appln. Recd. & Awards for past 15 years