EPFO holds Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0 awareness program in Jammu, Ladakh

Jammu, Sept 27: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) conducted an awareness and outreach program, “Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0,” at the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Jammu Depot) Conference Hall, Channi Rama, Jammu. The event was led by Rizwan Uddin, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I (RPFC-I), and aimed to address the concerns of employers and employees regarding provident fund and social security schemes.
The session was attended by prominent industry representatives, including L.M. Mohanty, Deputy General Manager, IOCL, Ashish Dingle, Depot Manager, BPCL, and representatives from HPCL, along with employers from various sectors like Kirpal Singh & Sons, Puri & Puri, and Chinar Motors. The program also focused on the grievances faced by employers regarding EPF contributions and UAN activation for short-term employees. Rizwan Uddin clarified that the EPF & MP Act 1952 mandates provident fund contributions from the first day of employment, with UAN portability ensuring no new UAN is required for job changes.
A similar awareness program was held at the Rural Self Employment Training Institute in Ladakh, where Pritesh Parihar, Senior Social Security Assistant, led the discussions. The programs focused on various EPFO initiatives, including E-Nomination, UAN activation, KYC updates, and the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme, 1976.
During the discussions, employers raised concerns about the social security benefits for contract workers, particularly drivers. Mohanty urged contractors to ensure that drivers receive proper benefits to reduce job turnover. Ramesh Lal from Batra Bros. praised EPFO schemes for easing the financial burden on employers by allowing employees to apply for advances without employer intervention.
The workshop concluded with a hands-on session, where EPFO officials assisted participants in navigating processes such as digital signature registration and ECR challan filing. Grievances were addressed, and detailed guidance on PF withdrawal was provided.