Observing that India was yet to achieve self-sufficiency in manufacturing sector, government on Wednesday said that in spite of having a huge reservoir of talented human resources 'we have not been able to harness this precious resource to its optimum potential.'

"The attributable causes are many. The most important being inadequate professional competency on the part of our work force, lack of commitment and appropriate attitude and right ambience at the place of work to recognise, reward and motivate workers for higher performance," Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma said.

Giving away over 200 Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar and National Safety Awards for 2001 and 2002, he said that with a view to tapping the latent potential of the country's work force at the plant level, a need was felt to institute such awards at the national level to recognise the best contribution of the working class.

He said with the 21st century heralding unprecedented challenges for the Indian industry in the post-liberalisation era, the focus was on gearing up to face the new challenges of global competition in every economic and industrial activity.

Verma said the manufacturing technology, which has witnessed a quantum jump in the past few decades with all its ramifications in terms of potential hazards and risks, cannot be made safe through the statutory provisions alone.

There is need for self-regulation on the part of the management in the areas of occupational safety and health, he added.