Workshop on “Importance of Occupational Safety, Health and Social Security in Industries” at Brahmani Club Rourkela on 24th February 2021.

Important Takeaways of Workshop on “Importance of Occupational Safety, Health and Social Security in Industries” at Brahmani Club Rourkela on 24th February 2021

1 Safety and Social Security with Skill Development are essential ingredients for A Secured Workforce and increased Productivity for the country
2. Vision Zero for Accident and Fatality is not a myth but A Reality
3 Workers Supervisors etc should be aware of Safety Social Protection available for A Safe Secured workforce
4 Requirements of Rest and Periodical Heath checkup should find in recently OSH Code 2020
5. As brought out by Collector during his address to Participants-Social impact & health impact involving Mines Sector need to be institutionalized to ensure Minimum requirements of safety, social security & skill development –Importantly for Dignity of workers engaged in mines in Sundargarh District (IGFP responded with offer for future cooperation through International Symposium with focus on Mining Sector in Consultation with German partners & use of LLL (Toys & Games for creating Awareness on Safety to children & women of Workers engaged in Mining & Construction sectors.
6 Safety Starts with Self should be displayed and published in industries Workplaces and Awareness through children also important to reach Parents Workers
7. Regular assessment of work place hazards like Physical, Chemical , Physiological and Psychological , etc. and prevention are essential for improvement of Occupational Health and safety.
8. Regular training on ergonomics, occupational health and safety is mandatory for all to achieve the goal of vision Zero.
9. Rourkela steel plant (RSP) represented by Mr S C Mohanty GM Safety emphasized on Vision Zero & supporting IGFP on OSH Activities while expressing his exposure to such unique Multidisciplinary platform through this workshop.
10.EPFO & ESIC provided immediate Relief to workers covered under these Acts in Sundargarh District
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) from Germany & Booklet on Safety & Health are Humane Rights were handed over to Mr Nikhil Pawan Kalyan IAS Collector Sundargarh & to RSP to equip workers with required protective equipment of good quality & for having safety health related Tips

A press note for press & TV representatives was handed over for News & Views
Total 57 Participants Including Guests Attended the Workshop.
Compiled By
IGFP
Dated 25th February 2021

Press Note on Workshop “Occupational Safety, Health & Social security in Industries “@ Rourkela on 

With recent Accidents and Fatalities involving Industries in States like AP, Gujarat and Odisha, Loss of Life and Industrial Unrest have brought in to Focus the need for Awareness on Safety, Health and Social Protection. A look at following figure speak for Safe Workplace and Secured Workforce :-
Industrial Accidents / Fatalities ( 2019 Figure ) Road Accidents / Fatalities

India 4000 500 4.65 Lakhs 1.51 Lakhs
Odisha 537 40 11500 5330

340 Million Accidents @ Work Worldwide Every Year
160 Million Occupational Diseases Worldwide Every Year
2.8 Million Deaths Caused by Accidents or Work related Health Every Year Worldwide
Every 15 Seconds, Someone Dies Due to Work Conditions
2. Annually 3 Trillion US Dollar ( 4% ) Economic Loss Worldwide (Source –ISSA)

Safety and Health related issues not only bring miseries to Families but entail huge loss of Productivity and State/ National Wealth which otherwise could be utilized for Employment and Efficiency extra.
Indo German focal point India with the support of German Social Accident Insurance DGUV and it’s Institutions involving Construction Electricity Logistic and Trade has been taking of such Awareness Workshops for workers and industries in various States in India with the support of Local State Administration through Symposiums Conference Street plays and Song Video contest etc with A Campaign Theme –
Parents-you You stay safe so that Family is Secured and the Nation is prosperous.
With Sundargarh District in Odisha home to one of the largest Steel plant RSP and good no of industries in SME sector, the Importance of Safety and Health with Social Security has gained tremendous importance, particularly Post Lockdown with Covid19 guidelines to be ensured by Industries. It is in this background and that to ensure Zero Accident and fatality @ Workplace what ILO ISSA have brought “7goldenrules for A Safe workplace with Secured Workforce ” IGFP with strong support of Collectorate Sundargarh and DGUV Germany is conducting this Workshop on Safety Health and Social Security for industries-A Unique program with Multidisciplinary Approach in one Floor, Central State Schemes ect
Remember 7s —— Securing Safety Social Security & Skill Development starts with Self
Compiled by
Indo German Focal Point ( IGFP ) – Prevention & Social Security
with Support of Collectorate Sundergarh
24th February 2021
Website:-www.indogermanfocalpoint.in

Summary Matrix & Analysis of Quiz conducted for 35 participants @ Mancheswar Industrial Estate, Bhubaneswar on 30.07.2017

Workshop on Impact of Covid-19 on SME/Small Business with Focus on Way Forward 2021 & Release of IGFP Calendar with SME Guide Book on 7 Golden Rules for Small Businesses @ Hotel Presidency, Bhubaneswar 16th January 2021

Release of IGFP Calendar 2021 & Workshop on Impact of Covid-19 on SME/Small Business with Focus on Way Forward 2021

Partners –MSME Department Govt of Odisha (TBC), BG BAU, Germany (TBC), Small Scale Industries Association, Cuttack (TBC) & IGFP

Suggestion for Postal Voting Right to Migrant Workers to CEC of India- An Initiative of IGFP

MEMORANDAM

 FOR

POSTAL BALLOT VOTING FOR MIGRANT WORKERS

In recent years due to Covid- 19 the plight of the migrant workers has been highlighted in various forums bring out the extent of their distress. 

Our organization, Indo German Focal Point (IGFP), has been actively taking various steps and discussing with experts in this field to find out ways and means of preventing the suffering of these workers. IGFP basically works on “activities on occupational safety and health in India with the expertise of German partners, viz., DGUV having MOU with DG FASLI, Ministry of Labour and Employment. Recently, we held a Webinar on migrant workers chaired by Dr. Ajay Dua, former Secretary to Government of India. That Seminar came out with various recommendations to improve the working conditions of the migrant workers and one of those suggestions being that migrants workers should be given voting right to be exercised  away from home. 

Migrant workers in our country are of sizable magnitude. The member was 335 million persons in 2001 which is now over 400 million or so, at present. Interstate migration takes place mostly from the States of Utter Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Jharkhand and North Eastern States. The major destinations are Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Kerala. Most of them move with their families from the villages. The net result is, at the time of election either of the State Assembly or of the Parliament, this sizable chunk of voters are left out as they do not enjoy the privilege of postal voting. According to Election Commission’s present policy the following categories are entitled to postal voting: – 

1. Personnel in Armed forces Including para-military forces
2. People working in Govt and posted abroad
3. People engaged in election duty

Thus the category of migrant labour is now not eligible for postal voting but looking at the size of the migrant population spread over various parts of the country, there seems to be a need for making them eligible for postal voting to ensure their participation in democratic processes of the nation. It will be fulfilling the dictum of inclusive democracy which can hardly be overlooked now keeping the example available in other democracies. Briefly speaking, if we look around the globe, we get the following procedures being in vogue which add to our presentation: –

In Australia, any voter living at a distance of 24km or more are eligible for postal ballot system since 1866. In Austria, any one can opt for postal voting. In Canada, this facility is available to all the citizens since 2007.USA citizens have exercised this facility in the recently held Presidential election. In Germany, about 29% of the eligible citizens use this facility. In UK also this facility is available liberally for all eligible citizens. In the birthplace of democracy.ie UK, Postal voting does not require a reason.

By giving migrant labourers the right to cast their vote through postal ballot, the Election Commission of India would be taking a step towards a more inclusive democracy, ensuring that every segment of the adult and eligible Indian population gets to cast their vote and is not excluded for reasons of exigencies of their profession. More importantly, it appears, we should like to be in line with more liberal procedures available in other distinguished democracies of the World.

Compiled by 

B N Som ACIArb (UK)

Secretary to GOI(retd)

Vice-Chairman,CAT(retd)

Ph: 9433046971

With Support of Advisory Board of Indo German Focal Point –Prevention & Social Security (IGFP) November 2020

                   ***************

Suggestions to Union Labour Secretary for Postal Voting Right to Migrant Workers & Inclusion of Vision Zero 7 Golden Rules in Rules being Finalized involving OSH Code 2020- An Intiative of IGFP

Respected Mr. Apurva Chandra (Union Labour Secretary),
While the entire country is with the Government in tackling the Menace of Covid19 Pandemic since March 2020, One Significant & Serious Issue is being witnessed starting from Panchayat to Parliament- The Plight of Migrant workers rushing back to their Home States due to Loss of Job/ Fear of Pandemic. with Approximately 500 Million Migrant Workers In our country with significant contribution to the National Economy, it seems somewhere their Constitutional Right to Vote in Elections is either Lost or being deprived in whatever way one sees because of being away from His/Her Home State where registered as A Voter. The Greater need of Livelihood makes him/her to work in Host state for fear of losing Job or cannot afford to spend Money required to visit Home state. Pandemic & Lockdown have brought the necessity for such Migrant workers be A Force to reckon with @ Political/Administrative Structure which in India”s context ” Exercise of Voting ‘has A Great Strength.
In view of above Factual position, it is of utmost necessity now to put in place A System which shall ensure that such Migrant Worker exercise their Rightful Vote while continuing @ Host State for Livelihood by allowing ” Postal Voting Rights for Migrant Workers in India ” as allowed to Defence Personnel ect .To this effect, Indo German Focal Point ( IGFP ) after carefully analysing the Issue through Webinar & Discussion ect has submitted A Memorandum to Honourable Chief Election Commission of India with support of Eminent Civil Servants like Dr Ajay Dua & Mr. B N Som Former Secretary to Govt. of India who is kind enough to Draft this Memorandum which is enclosed herewith. It is gratifying to find support from Chief Election Officer & Secretary to Govt of Tamilnadu by forwarding the Memorandum of IGFP to CEC India. ( Copy Enclosed )

1. May i request your kindself to take the Lead in recommending to CEC India for ” Grant of Postal Voting Rights to Migrant Workers ” which shall carry importance with Labour Ministry being the Nodal Ministry for Welfare of Workers in the Country. Factual Position with Facts & Illustrations/Examples within the Country & International Practice involving Migrant Workers are stated well in the Memorandum.

. Another Issue which assumes urgency & Importance, particularly during Pandemic & Post Lockdown is ” A Safe Workplace for Workers in their Workplaces- Industries & for Self Employed also “. With Good number of Industrial & Road Accidents in our Country , we are not only losing Lives but also adversely affecting Productivity/Loss to GDP, besides effect on Medical Infrastructure. It is in this background, International Social Security ( ISSA ) to which India is An Active Member has Launched in 2017 ” 7 Golden Rules for Zero Accident & Death @ Workplaces ” as follows:-

7 Golden Rules for Vision Zero

1. Take leadership – demonstrate commitment
2. Identify hazards – control risks
3. Define targets – develop programmes
4. Ensure a safe and healthy system –be well-organized
5. Ensure safety and health in machines, equipment and workplaces
6. Improve qualifications – develop competence
7. Invest in people – motivate by participation It is a rare privilege for Indo German Focal Point ( IGFP ) which has been taking up OSH Activities in India through International/National Vision Zero Symposiums/Conference, Street Plays, Song Video Contest & through Publications ect with strong support of German Social Accident Insurance ( DGUV ) which is having MOU with DGFASLI ( MOL ) & IGFP has coordinated to get Vision Zero Golden Rules translated to Hindi to reach our Workers & Industries including Self Employed- Stay Safe & Secured which in today”s Pandemic is the Highest Priority for All.

2. Now that OSH WellBeing Code 2020 Rules are being Finalized, it seems An Opportune Time to get 7 Golden Rules embedded in Rules involving OSH Code 2020 for which Vision Zero 7 Golden Rules Guidebook in English & Hindi is enclosed herewith. Implementation of Vision Zero Golden Rules should Prove A Game Changer involving the Workers, Industries & for Economy as a whole.

It is our Fervent request that your kindself may discuss above Two Suggestions- 1. Postal Voting Rights to Migrant Workers & 2. Adoption of 7 Golden Rules of Vision Zero with State Labour Secretary/ BOCW State welfare Board Review Meetings under your Leadership.
IGFP will be @ your Call to provide Technical Support ,if & when required by MOLinvolving Above Two Suggestions including training for Construction Workers through State Welfare Boards for which DO Letter sent to the then Union Labour Secretary from Our German Partner ( DGUV ) is enclosed for ready reference please.
With Utmost Regards
Mr B.K Sahu

Former Insurance Commissioner, ESIC, Ministry of Labour,
Communication Adviser To Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, IRDA,
Now Director @ Indo- German Focal Point- Prevention & Social Security For India , DGUV
Land No- 0674-2386668,
Mobile- 9040590798/ 9818098844
Our Website:-www.indogermanfocalpoint.com

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IMFP 2021 Shortlist Announcement

Winning video of KITT for 2019 with English Subtitles

Half Day Workshop on Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) for Construction Workers with Focus on Covid-19 Preventive Measures @ Jharsuguda on 14th October 2020 Through VC @ IGFP & Physical Meeting @ Jharsuguda