The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that India is the economic hope of the globe and that the picture is both fascinating and complex as our economy is fast expanding. He was addressing the gathering after giving away the Prime Minister Shram Awards to more than 300 people, here today. The Minister of State for Labour and Employment (I/C), Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.The Vice President said that millions of workforces are working round the clock to keep the wheels of economy running as he complimented the winners of Shram Awards. He further said that this is the ‘real GDP’ festival. By this I mean, the ‘Growth Driving Power’ from among whom the ‘Great Dedicated Persons’ are being honoured today and these two GDPs are critical for the ‘Gross Domestic Product’, the GDP that we are all ultimately concerned with, he added.The Vice President said that improving the productivity of our workforce is the main challenge. If workers produce more per hour, there is more of output and income to share. He further said that ‘Shakti’ is the force that drives all processes including biological and mechanical. We have gathered here today to underline and acknowledge the importance of ‘Shram Sakti’ that is driving a range of processes of production which are critical to economic growth and development, he added.
The Vice President said that improving the education level of labour force, improving access to quality training is crucial. He further said that better coordination among various stakeholders, strengthening skill delivery framework, strengthening private sector participation and augmenting financial resources and systemic reforms are needed. There is widespread acknowledgement that present labour laws are coming in the way of increased investment flows and if that is the case, should they not be examined to find solutions, he questioned.The Vice President asked government and private sector to address the concerns, needs and aspirations of the work force by ensuring an appropriate eco-system. He further said that our vast workforce is making huge contribution for the advancement of our nation. We cannot live with rules which come in the way of creating more job opportunities and rules that make running of an enterprise difficult need to be relooked at, he added.