Former Prime Minister of India - Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Speech of Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Shram Awards Function

Shri Sharad Yadav, Shri Muni Lall, Shri Vinod Vaish, Ladies & Gentlemen,

I am pleased to be with you this morning to give away the Shram Awards for the year 2000.

Let me first take this opportunity to extend my heartiest congratulations to all the award winners for their exemplary commitment and dedication to work. The persons who have gathered here to receive the awards today form the backbone of our public sector industries and have been selected for their extraordinary accomplishments. These awards are a result of their lifetime of dedicated hard work and signify their high motivational levels and pursuit of excellence at the workplace.

While the awards are being given today to a select group of workers for their outstanding contribution, this is also a tribute and an honor to the entire working class of the country for their valuable contribution in our quest towards nation building.

We have to recognize that it is the ordinary workers in the country who by dint of their dedication and hard work set the pace of our development. This large workforce is responsible for the growth and progress of our nation and it constitutes a very important asset in the form of human resource for our country. It is, therefore, very important that the country looks after them and utilizes their efforts more efficiently and profitably as they hold the key to our future.

I had mentioned last year that the economic reforms which we have embarked on are not meant to benefit any particular group of people; rather they seek to ensure that the fruits of growth get distributed amongst all sections of society, especially the poorest of the poor. We have a workforce of over 400 million people out of which over ninety percent are in the unorganized sector. These silent workers are continuously toiling and are primarily responsible for keeping the wheels of development moving. It, therefore, becomes our duty to ensure that this large segment of our population is taken care of so that they can fully participate in the progress of our nation.

India is blessed with vast natural and human resources. It is our responsibility to use them most productively. Our natural resources are necessarily limited. Hence, it is imperative that we optimize our human resources by creating employment opportunities for all our people.

We need to pay greater attention to development of the skills of our large and diverse workforce. This is necessary for Indian labour to keep pace with the best work practices in the world. It is especially necessary for our workers to learn to use the latest technologies productively.

We have made a mark in the world in information technology. We need to carry on this good work to other sectors as well by preparing our workforce to compete successfully in the global market.

In this context, I would like to make a special appeal to the entire labour community in India. This is an age of competition. Throughout the world, new opportunities to do business are opening up. Every country has had to open its markets somewhat to products made in other countries. We all know that today there are more foreign goods available in our market than ever before. Consumers also prefer to choose from a wider range of goods. When buying, they look at cost as well as quality.

In this age of global competition, if we do not make products that are of good quality and lower cost, they will not be sold in the global market. What to talk of foreign markets, they will not be able to compete against imported goods in our own domestic market.

That is why, the biggest challenge before us is how to make Indian industry globally competitive. I do not say that this is a challenge only for our workers; our industrialists, managers, administrators, and those in government too will have to face this challenge. Let us jointly face this challenge. In all industries, whether they are in the public or the private sector, let us increase efficiency, increase production, and increase quality. Let us thereby ensure that the “Made in India” label, both in our domestic and foreign markets, becomes synonymous with the best in the world.

On this occasion, I would like to make one thing clear. When the Government talks of labour reforms, our aim is to make Indian industry and services more competitive. These reforms are not anti-labour. I would say that they are indeed pro-labour, because they will ensure that employment opportunities increase rapidly. If investors and industrialists cannot run their companies according to today’s needs, and if industries become sick and start shutting down for this reason, it is not in the interest of either the country or of workers.

All of us know that there are many reasons for industrial sickness. One main reason is the current global recession. Its effects have been felt in India, too, to some extent. The absence of infrastructure facilities is another big reason. To bridge this gap, the government has introduced many new policies and projects. But we will all have to acknowledge that the absence of labour laws that are appropriate in the present circumstances is also a big hurdle for industries.

That is why I would like all those concerned with this issue to ponder over this issue with an open mind, and support necessary labour reforms. It is the responsibility of the government to safeguard the interests of workers while implementing such reforms, and I would like to assure you that we will discharge this responsibility fully.

The ongoing process of globalization has created enormous opportunities in terms of accelerating the flow of international trade and investment. It has also increased the pace and scale of information exchange, resulting in the emergence of a global market for investment finance. Alongside these opportunities, globalization also has its downside. Some of the fears in this regard are not unfounded. Blind acceptance of the developmental models prescribed by industrialized nations could result in distress and unemployment in a large and diverse country like ours. Therefore, we have to evolve a model which suits our requirements and takes into consideration our circumstances.

India has a long tradition of labour legislation, dating from pre-Independence times. The Labour Policy of India derives its origin, inspiration, and strength from the statements of the important nationalist leaders during the days of the Freedom Struggle, from the debates of the Constituent Assembly, from the provisions of the Constitution, from International Conventions and Recommendations, and from the deliberations of various National Committees and Commissions relating to labour. Our policy has always recognized that, in the worker-management relationship, labour is the weaker partner. Therefore, our legislations have been formulated with the intention of protecting the interests of labour.

We have initiated a number of legislative and executive initiatives for promoting, protecting, and providing safety and social security to workers in recent years. A unique social security scheme for agricultural workers, namely, “Krishi Shramik Suraksha Yojana — 2001” has been launched in July last year. The schemes in the first phase would cover one million agricultural workers in fifty districts of the country. It will provide them comprehensive life insurance protection, periodical lump sum survival benefit, and pension through the Life Insurance Corporation.

As a sequel to my announcement on the agenda for Social Security Development of North-Eastern States & Sikkim, a centrally-sponsored scheme “Establishment of Industrial Training Institutes in the North-Eastern States and Sikkim” has been formulated with a total outlay of Rs. 100 crore. It aims to meet the quantitative and qualitative requirements of skilled and semi-skilled manpower for industries, service sector and self-employment. There is also a need to increase social security cover for the unorganized sector. Towards this end, we will have to introduce a comprehensive legislation.

We have set up the Second National Commission on Labour to comprehensively consider all issues relating to labour and recommend appropriate changes in laws and policies. This Commission is currently carrying out extensive consultations. I would like the Commission to submit its report as quickly as possible. I assure you that the government will give a serious consideration to its report and implement all appropriate recommendations.

Two years ago in my Independence Day address, I had given a new message to our people, which I wish to repeat today. This slogan was: Parishrami Bharat (industrious India), Parakrami Bharat (valourous India), a Vijayi Bharat (winning India). This was the Independence Day after the Kargil War. Our country can never forget the valour and victory of our jawans in the Kargil War. This is a proud chapter in the history of Independent India. Once again, our jawans are at the borders. We are fighting a decisive battle against terrorism. Diplomacy is a part of this battle. We shall root out terrorism. No one should have any doubt about this.

The brave way, the devoted way, the disciplined and determined way our jawans are guarding our borders, without bothering about the cold and other adversities, is an example to all sections of our people. We can emulate them when all of us -- wherever we are, whatever we are doing -- work hard and work conscientiously. We will have to create a new work culture.

To make India industrious is not the workers’ responsibility alone. Our students will have to work hard; our managers will have to work hard; and all officers and staff of the government will also have to work hard.

I conclude my remarks by once again commending all the winners of this year’s Shram Awards and the managements of their organizations. I am sure that these workers would motivate us to aim higher and realize our aspirations.

Thank you.