VISHWAKARMA RASHTRIYA PURASKAR (VRP)

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).

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.

National Safety Awards

1. 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;
2. Improving ways and means for using indigenous materials in the place of imported ones (Import substitution);
3. Better utilization of machinery & equipment, waste or scrap material for raising productivity;
4. Lightening physical efforts/ergonomic interventions in certain operations and thereby leading to reduced fatigue & increased productivity;
5. 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;
6. Increased efficiency of the organization and management;
7. Improvement in quality of products or their designs & packing methods;
8. Making general working environment safe.

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 man hours 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 lakhs man hours 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

For Factories/Construction Sites/Installations Under AERB, Working One Million Man hours And More

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.

Scheme IV : Based on Accident Free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 11 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 Half Million Man hours Subject To A Minimum Of One Quarter Million Man hours

Scheme V : 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.

Scheme VI : Based on Accident Free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 11 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 quarter million man hours subject to minimum of one lakh man hours.

Scheme VII : 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.

Scheme VIII : Based on Accident free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 11 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.

Scheme VI : Based on Accident Free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 11 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 lakh man hours subject to minimum of fifty thousand man hours.
( Newly Introduced)

Scheme IX : 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.

Scheme X : Based on Accident free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 11 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 PORTS

Scheme XI : For work on ships (Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate) – Previously designated as Scheme IX

Provides for the grant of three awards to employer handling any cargo, except bulk oil on board the ship who achieves the lowest average weighted frequency rate of accidents over a period of three consecutive years ending in the performance year. One award is for employers who work a minimum of 1,00,000 man-hours(Group A) during each of the three consecutive years ending in the performance year. The second award is for employers who work a minimum of 50,000 man hours but less than 1,00,000 man hours(Group B) and the third award is for employers who work a minimum of 25,000 man hours but less than 50,000(Group C) man hours during each of the three consecutive years. Under each group a shield is given to the winner and the runner-up. A certificate of merit is also given to the awards winners.

Scheme XII : For work on shore (Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate) - Previously designated as Scheme X

Provides for the grant of three awards for shore employers, including port authorities, who achieve the lowest average weighted frequency rate over a period of three consecutive years ending in the performance year. One award is for employers who work a minimum of 2,50,000 man hours(Group A) during each of the three consecutive years ending in the performance year. The second award is for employers who work a minimum of 1,00,000 man hours but less than 2,50,000 man hours (Group B) and the third award is for employers who work less than 1,00,000 man hours but subject to minimum of 25,000 man hours (Group C) during each of the three consecutive years. Under each group a shield is given to the winner and runner-up. A certificate of merit is also given to the awards winners.

Procedure For The Grant Of Awards

Every year applications are invited in the prescribed form for the grant of the awards through advertisement in important national and regional newspapers. Organisations are required to apply for awards under each scheme as applicable to them. The applications are adjudged by Tripartite Awards Committee constituted for three years by the Ministry of Labour and consisting of not less than five members selected solely on the basis of their experience and technical ability. The decision of the Awards Committee is final with regard to the final result.

Awards Distribution Function

The National Safety Awards(NSA) for each Performance Year will be granted to the winners and Runners up by the Hon’ble Labour & Employment Minister, Govt. of India, in 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.

Schedules For Schemes I And II

1. Manufacture of Textiles
2. Manufacture of Paper & Paper Products, Publishing, Printing and Reproduction of Recorded Media.
3. Manufacture of Chemicals & Chemical Products
4. Manufacture of Coke & Refined Petroleum Products
5. Manufacture of Rubber & Plastic Products
6. Manufacture of Machinery & Equipment other than Electrical Machinery & apparatus.
7. Manufacture of Electrical Machinery and apparatus.
8. Manufacture of Electrical & Electronic machinery & equipment/apparatus & Medical Precision and optical instruments and watches and clocks.
9. Manufacture of Transport Equipment
10. Manufacture of Motor Vehicles, Trailers and Semi Trailers.
11. Manufacture of Basic Metals & Fabricated Metal Products Except Machinery & Equipment.
12. Manufacture of Non-Metallic Mineral Products.
13. Manufacture of Food Products and Beverages.
14. Construction
15. Miscellaneous (not included elsewhere)

Schedules For Schemes III, IV, V, VI,VII, VIII, IX AND X

1. Manufacture of Textiles
2. Manufacture of Chemicals and Chemical Products
3. Tanning and Dressing of Leather : Manufacture of Luggage, Handbags, Saddlery, Harness and Footwear.
4. Manufacture of Rubber and Plastic Products
5. Manufacture of Non-Metallic Mineral Products.
6. Manufacture of Food Products & Beverages.
7. Manufacture of Electrical and Electronic machinery & apparatus, Medical Precision and optical Instruments, Watches and Clocks.
8. Manufacture of Machinery and Equipment except Electrical machinery.
9. Manufacture of Fabricated Metal Products Except Machinery and Equipment
10. Construction
11. Miscellaneous (not included elsewhere)