Jammu, Jan 05: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) on Friday said it has been actively working towards the effective implementation of the EPF & MP Act, 1952 in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
According to an EPFO press release, concerns over accidental deaths among employees engaged in ongoing power projects prompted a proactive response from the PF Commissioner Rizwan Uddin, which led to collaborative efforts with Chairman NHPC, Rajiv Vishnoi, and a subsequent meeting with Chenab Valley Power Projects Ltd (CVPPL).
During the meeting, Ramesh Mukhiya, MD Chenab Valley Power Projects Ltd (CVPPL), along with key personnel, met with P F Commissioner to enhance awareness and compliance with the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Miscellaneous Provisions (MP) Act, 1952. It was agreed that CVPPL would conduct a comprehensive review of compliance by all contractors engaged directly or as sub-contractors in various power projects executed by CVPPL in Jammu & Kashmir.
Saroj Kumar Sethi was designated as the Nodal Officer for this specific assignment, ensuring proper compliance by all contractors. EPFO will actively facilitate the process through awareness programs and informative sessions, including the organization of “Nidhi Apke Nikat 2.0 (NAN 2.0)” in Kishtwar in collaboration with CVPPL.
“The collaboration envisions proactive engagement through workshops, seminars and informational sessions. Experts in EPF and MP Act will be engaged to provide valuable insights, address queries and guide stakeholders for effective implementation,” the EPFO said, adding that the CVPPL has requested to provide the publicity materials of EPFO for advertising them and creating awareness about the EPFO Schemes at their project sites.
Project Manager, M/s Patel Engineering was directed to provide details of remittances of all the contractors engaged in J&K and Ladakh to the nodal Officer of CVPPL, prior to March 2023 and thereafter.
The partnership envisions proactive engagement through workshops, seminars, and informational sessions, with experts in EPF and MP Act providing valuable insights. CVPPL has expressed its commitment to full compliance by contractors and will collaborate closely with EPFO to address any issues or complaints raised by employees engaged through their contractors/sub-contractors.
During the meeting, Rizwan Uddin highlighted the importance of social security in today’s scenario. He elaborated on the key features of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, and the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976, both of which have been extended to workers in J&K and Ladakh since November 2019. The features of these schemes were discussed in detail, emphasizing their significance for the welfare of employees.
