Telangana Launches Annual P. Janardhan Reddy Awards to Recognise Labour Sector Contributions

Hyderabad: The Telangana government has established a new annual award to celebrate outstanding achievements in the labour sector. Labour, Employment and Mines Minister Dr. G. Vivek Venkatswamy revealed the initiative during May Day festivities at Ravindra Bharathi, stating that the P. Janardhan Reddy Lifetime Achievement Awards would be conferred every year on May Day.

The awards pay tribute to the legacy of the late P. Janardhan Reddy, whose career was defined by his unwavering advocacy for workers, labourers, and marginalised communities. The creation of these honours stems from a representation made by former MLC Ramulu Nayak, prompting the government to instruct the Labour Commissioner to develop comprehensive guidelines and eligibility requirements. Presentations will commence on May Day in 2027.

Beyond the new award, the Minister presented the Shrama Shakti Awards to over 100 recipients, including prominent trade union representatives, workers, and management figures. These honours recognised both organisations that have demonstrated strong compliance with labour legislation and labour advocates whose work has significantly advanced workers' rights and protections.

In a demonstration of the government's broader commitment to worker welfare, financial support was extended to the families of two gig workers who died in the course of their employment. Each family received ₹5 lakh, fulfilling a commitment made earlier by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The beneficiaries were the families of delivery personnel Garlapati Shashidhar Reddy and Dharavath Mahesh. Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union leader Shaik Salauddin received recognition for his persistent efforts in securing compensation for the affected families.

The May Day programme also saw the release of an "Achievements and Activities Report" booklet, which outlined the significant work undertaken by the Labour, Employment, Training, Factories and Boilers departments. The publication detailed major accomplishments, current initiatives, and strategic priorities aimed at strengthening these sectors going forward.