BHEL Haridwar unit bagged Shram Awards

BHEL'S heroes

For third successive year BHEL Haridwar unit has bagged a chunk of Prime Minister's Shram Awards

P.S. Chauhan

Haridwar, Sept, 23, 2010: Haridwar unit of the BHEL, one of the Navratna public sector undertakings of the country, once again has a reason to cheer. It has the proud distinction of winning nine of the Prime Minister's Shram Awards, the highest in the country, for the three consecutive years, for 2005, 2006 and 2007. The awards were recently conferred on the employees by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the union minister for labour and employment, Mallikarjun Kharge and the union minister of state for labour and employment, Harish Rawat, at a glittering function recently held at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The BHEL bagged 14 awards, out of which Haridwar unit of the company alone won nine of these coveted sobriquets. Instituted in 1985 by the union ministry of labour and employment, these awards, which include Shram Bhushan, Shram Veer and Shram Shree, are the country's highest honour bestowed on individuals for outstanding achievements leading to higher productivity, improved quality, greater safety, import substitution and foreign exchange savings.

Among the recipients of the Shram Awards is Karan Singh, an assistant engineer of Block-1, who bagged the top laurel of Shram Bhushan for 2007 and Shram Veer for 2006. He was selected for the top award for giving valuable suggestions for simplification of the functioning of the process which is useful for all types of generators. His suggestions, along with that of Ghasitu Ram, also an additional engineer in Block-1, who got the Shram Veer for 2006, gave suggestions about simplifying the manufacturing of various types of drilling devices, fixtures and universal attachment. "Their innovative suggestions have helped increase the quality and productivity, resulting in a profit of Rs. 3 crores," said the additional general manager (publicity and public relations), Rajiv Bhatnagar. Others who received these awards are Rajveer Singh, who got Shram Shree for 2005 and Shram Veer for 2007, Bhagmal (Shram Shree for 2005), Satyapal (Shram Veer for 2005), H.P. Joshi (Shram Shree for 2006 and Shram Veer for 2007) and B.L. Ahuja (Shram Shree for 2007).

Karan Singh, who, besides winning Shram Bhushan and Shram Veer, has also been honoured with Vishwakarma award in 2003, 2005 and 2008 and gold medal in international quality circle meet, is overwhelmed with excitement and joy at receiving the top honour. "If we work with commitment and perseverance, we can achieve any height. Getting the Shram Award is a life time achievement," says Karan Singh. The retired employee of the company, H.P. Joshi, who received Shram Veer for 2006 and Shram Shree for 2007, says, "If we work hard, it not only brings success, but also enhances the prestige of the company. It is a dream come true for me," says Joshi. Rajveer Singh, who bagged Shram Shree for 2005 and Shram Veer for 2007, says, "Though the awards are great motivating force, no award is greater than the satisfaction of fulfilling one's duty with the best of our capabilities".

Congratulating the awardees, the executive director of the BHEL, Haridwar, D.K. Mody said that these employees had made the company proud. "They are the source of inspiration to everyone and also our greatest asset. It is on account of such employees that the BHEL is marching from height to height," said Mody.

There were scenes of jubilation and celebrations in the BHEL, as the awardees returned from Delhi after getting the honour. It may be mentioned here that the zeal of Haridwar unit of BHEL's employees, supported by the company's constant encouragement, has resulted in 74 of its employees so far winning a sizeable number of 57 of these top accolades. Continuing the award winning spree, Ramdhar Gautam of the company has been selected for Shram Veer by the union ministry of labour and employment which has recently announced the list for the year 2008.