The Prime Minister’s Shram Award Scheme was instituted in the year 1985. The award has been instituted to recognize the outstanding contributions made by workmen as defined in the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 in organizations both in public and private sector and who have distinguished record of performance, devotion to duty of a high order, specific contribution in the field of productivity, proven innovation abilities, presence of mind and exceptional courage and also to the workmen who have made supreme sacrifice of laying down their lives in the conscientious discharge of their duties. The details of the Scheme indicating the objectives, scope and selection procedure adopted for giving awards is at Annexure.

Annexure

Note on Prime Minister’s Shram Awards

            The Prime Minister’s Shram Awards were instituted in 1985, for the workers in recognition of outstanding contribution towards production, and for showing exemplary zeal and enthusiasm in discharge of their duties in the Central/ State Governments Public Sector and Departmental Undertakings.  The Awards are presented to the workmen as defined in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and employed in the Departmental Undertakings of the Central and State Governments, Central and State Public Sector Undertakings and private sector having minimum of 500 employees on roll and engaged in manufacturing and productive processes and whose performance is assessable. The total No. of awards are 33 details of which is as under:-

The Shram Ratna Award would be common for both the Public and Private Sectors and the remaining 32 awards would be shared equally by both the sectors, i.e. 16 each for Public and Private Sectors. In case of awards being shared by a worker with team and/or different teams/other individual worker, the award money would be equally shared by the total number of workers {members of the team(s) + individual worker}. While the total number of awards in one year would be thirty three, in case awards for any one or more categories are not being given, these can be distributed among the other lower categories.  It may not be mandatory to give all the prizes every year.  Besides the cash prize, awardees would also receive a “SANAD” from the Prime Minister. The awardees are also eligible for 75% concession in 2^nd Class Rail Fare.

Eligibility:       The awards will be given to workmen who have distinguished record of performance, devotion to duty of a high order, specific contribution in the field of productivity, proven innovative abilities, presence of mind and exceptional courage.  The awards may be given to those workmen also who have risked their lives or made supreme sacrifice of laying down their lives in the conscientious discharge of their duties.

Selection procedure: All the nominations received through the administrative Ministries/State Governments in the case of departmental undertakings of the Central and State Governments and Central and State Public Sector Undertakings and that of private sector through their National Associations/Chambers will be scrutinized and graded in descending order award-wise by a Technical Committee. The Technical Committee is chaired by an eminent personality in the field of technology with representatives from employers’ organizations, central trade unions, experts from the scientific/technical institutions of repute and DGFASLI. The Technical Committee will make recommendations for various categories of awards to the Screening Committee. The Screening Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Labour) associating members at Joint Secretary Level from PMO, Cabinet Secretariat, Home and Public Enterprises will further consider the recommendations of the Technical Committee and will make final recommendations for the approval of Hon’ble Prime Minister. These awards shall be announced on the eve of the Independence Day every year.

Announcement and distribution of the awards: These awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day/Independence Day and are distributed in the public function to be chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister as per his convenience.

This information was given by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar Union Minister of State (I/C) for Labour and Employment in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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FH/IA