The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways conferred the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak on 12 rat-hole miners in New Delhi for their bravery in saving lives.
It is the highest category of the Jeevan Raksha Padak, a civilian life-saving award administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Instituted on 30 September 1961, it has three levels: Sarvottam, Uttam and Jeevan Raksha Padak. Open to all citizens and given posthumously too, it carries a ₹2 lakh grant, a medal and a certificate.