JAMMU: Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) J&K and Ladakh on Monday conducted Nidhi Apke Nikat 2.0, a participatory awareness outreach programme at DC Office Samba, Jammu in association with District Administration Samba.
As per the release, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Rizwan Uddin, inaugurated the session. He explained the importance of social security in today’s scenario and highlighted the key features of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 and the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976. These two prominent social security schemes are being extended to workers in J&K and Ladakh from November, 2019. He also discussed the features of these schemes in detail.
Considering the relevance of Nidhi Aapke Nikat, participants were encouraged to raise their issues. Further, he informed that the nominee of an employee (having been a member of Provident Fund for at least one year of employment) whose death occurs while being in service is entitled to a minimum of Rs 2.5 Lakh of insurance amount. He further said, “Maximum insurance under the EDLI scheme is Rs. 7 Lakhs. EPFO is paying monthly pensions to the families of employees who met with accidents a few months ago. Wife and children of deceased employees are entitled to pension. The wife would get pension till her lifetime.”
ALSO READ: Sensing sensitivity of involvement of son; BJP cancels membership of its VP
The workshop lasted for more than one hour, where P. F. Commissioner Rizwan Uddin heard the issues being faced by the establishments and employees. A hand holding and interactive session continued for another hour in which various stakeholders went live and learnt how to deal with the problems faced by them with the help of Shri Bipin Kumar, EO/AO.
The programme focused on reaching out to the stakeholders, creating awareness about schemes of EPFO viz. PF, Pension and Insurance, addressing queries and grievances of stakeholders, taking feedback and suggestions from stakeholders, employees, employers, Industry Association, Contractors. P F Commissioner appealed all industries to extend the Social Security benefits to all the eligible employees from the very first day of their joining the firm.
Handholding session was also held to sensitize the employers about P F provisions and modalities. Participants of the programme were also made aware about important initiatives of EPFO such as e-Nomination, Online Claim Filing, Principal Employer Dashboard, updation of KYC in UAN etc. Grievances related to updation of member profile through Joint Declaration, Death Cases were heard and registered during the program.
Further, P F Commissioner advised all such establishments to enroll all eligible employees as members, otherwise appropriate action would be initiated against Principal Employers and concerned contractor under provisions of EPF and MP Act, 1952.
Dignitaries were present during the program included Amil Khateeb, ALC, Samba; Pawan Bhati, Labour Officer, Samba. Representatives from industries included Shri Raman Jolly from M/s. U. K. Paints (I) Pvt. Ltd.; Shri Rohit Saroha from M/s. Shivalik Crop Science Pvt. Ltd among other. Major contractors of Samba region were also attended the program.
Apart from Jammu, Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0 program was also held at Khyber Industries, Khunmoh, Srinagar by Shri Ankur Janghu (EO/AO), District Nodal Officer of EPFO.
Another programme was organized at Sindh Public School, Sheynam, Leh by Shri Pawan Kumar (EO/AO), District Nodal Officer of EPFO, Leh where representatives of establishments and employees were present in the program.
In these programs, benefits of various EPF schemes were discussed in a full fledged manner. EPFO J & K and Ladakh are always committed in providing prompt service delivery to all the stakeholders in a transparent, accessible, and convenient manner. Employers and workers can reach EPFO, Jammu through 6006567049 and ro.jammu@epfindia.gov.in.
