Bheemappa KS from Karnataka has won the maiden Operator Champion of India competition organised by Volvo CE, which saw nine winners in the heats from across the regions competing for the top spot in the final round. Narendra Singh from Rajasthan stood the runner-up in a close competition. The Operator Champion final took place between March 14 to16 at the Volvo CE headquarters in Bengaluru. The three-day event welcomed each of the winners from the nine regional heats, which were staged over the past 18 months.

Present on the occasion were Gaurav Kapoor, Head ? Industry Partnership & CSR at SCC Engagements, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and HS Mohan, Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council (IESC), promoted by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers? Association (iCEMA), among others.

Presenting the awards to the winners, Dimitrov Krishnan, Vice President and Head, Volvo CE India, said, ?Our Operator Champion programme has received excellent response from the industry. We are celebrating the tremendous value that equipment operators bring to the construction and mining industry. Their role in nation building is to be celebrated. Through this Operator Champion programme, we have connected with many operators and their networks around the country. Our aim has been to make each one of them realise the important role they play, improve their competence and confidence. And to the winners, we hope the prize money will change their life to an extent.?

The winner received a cheque for Rs 5 lakh, while the runner-up received a cheque for Rs 2 lakh.