The President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee conferred the National Safety Awards (Mines) for the Years 2008, 2009 & 2010 at a function organized in Vigyan Bhavan by Ministry of Labour & Employment today (November 21, 2012).

Speaking on the occasion, the President stated that the mining industry occupies an important position in the national economy by not only employing over one million persons but also producing basic raw materials for many industries, including the core sector. He stated that this is a time of introspection as issues such as increased mechanization, emphasis on protection of environment, stringent social demand on safety at workplaces, large scale introduction of information technology in mining industry, more difficult geo-mining locales and cost considerations pose challenges to the mining industry in India. In this changed scenario, all stakeholders will constantly need to be a step ahead of the learning curve and continuously re-invent business and technological processes, he said.

The President stated that to meet our developmental needs and vast requirement of energy, the country in the next 10-15 years will have to rely more and more on coal. However, he said that to make increased dependence on coal a sustainable phenomenon, we will have to move towards cleaner technologies so that the environment is not unduly stretched. He expressed confidence that the National Safety Awards (Mines) would prove to be an excellent catalyst in upholding health, safety and welfare standards in our mines.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Shri K Suresh, Minister of State for Labour & Employment.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, instituted the National Safety Awards (Mines) in 1983 for the contest year 1982 to promote a competitive spirit amongst mine operators for the betterment of safety standards in mines and to give due recognition to outstanding safety performance at the national level. The National Safety Awards (Mines) scheme is applicable to all mines which come under the purview of the Mines Act 1952.