8 August : The Union Minister of Labour & Employment, Shri Oscar Fernandes conferred the V.V. Giri Memorial Award 2008 on Prof. K.P. Kannan, Member, National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector for his outstanding research work in ‘Social Security Measures for Labour’ here today.
The Award, introduced by V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, carries a cash prize of Rs. One Lakh and a citation. The theme chosen for the award being given in the year 2008 is Social Security Measures for Labour with special reference to India. The Institute has recently introduced this special award which would be conferred on scholars for their outstanding contributions in the area of Labour.
The Award ceremony was preceded by a Workshop on “Social Security Programmes in India – Initiatives and Delivery System”, organized by V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, an autonomous body of the Ministry of Labour & Employment. The workshop aimed at exploring ways and means to extend social security measures to unorganized sector workers and was attended by a large number of trade union leaders and organizers of informal sector workers. The Workshop was part of the Institute’s Birth Anniversary celebrations of Dr. V.V. Giri, one of the most renowned labour leaders of the country.
Professor Kannan, the recipient of this year’s Award, is a distinguished academician and development economist who has done considerable work in the area of social security and has several publications to his credit.
In his acceptance speech, Professor Kannan said that the provision of social security is crucial to the group of poor and vulnerable workers and in this context, he said, the provision of NREGP is a historic initiative in giving a legal entitlement to basic social security.
Shri Fernandes also released three publications brought out by the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute. The Secretary Labour & Employment, Smt Sudha Pillai was also present on the occasion.