Labour and Employment Minister Sis Ram Ola has called for checking accidents at industrial plants and enhancing occupational safety measures at work places. Presenting Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar and National Safety Awards for the year 2011 in New Delhi today, he urged employers to provide healthy and safe enviornment to workers and encourage them to lead healthy lives. The Minister said, this can help give a fillip to investment-driven development in the country.

Labour and Employment Secretary Mrutyunjay Sarangi said the government has chalked out a time-bound programme under which a mass awareness campaign has been launched through electronic media regarding provision of safety and health facilities at work places.

Our correspondent reports, Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar carrying a cash prize and a certificate are given in recognition of suggestions by workers for improving quality, productivity and working conditions such as safety, health and enviornmental conservation in industrial undertakings.

National Safety Awards recognise outstanding safety performance of industrial establishments, construction sites, ports and installations in accident prevention programmes.