The V.V Giri Memorial award for 2011 was today conferred upon noted economist and scholar, Professor Utsa Patnaik, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to labour studies. In her work, Professor Utsa has called for the promotion of labour intensive small scale production to ensure sustainable agrarian development.

Speaking on the ocassion, Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said, the government has taken a number of steps like interest subvention to farmers adhering to repayment schedules, Kisan Credit Cards and revival packages to ensure flow of credit to small and marginal farmers. The Minister said there is a need for carrying out systemtic research to understand labour characteristics of the emerging labour landscape.

AIR Correspondent reports that the award intorduced by V V Giri National Labour Institute carries a cash prize of one lakh rupees and a citation.