Srinagar, Oct 27: Regional Provident Fund Commissioner of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Rizwan Uddin on Friday inaugurated a crucial workshop focused on social security at the Himalayan Education Mission College in Thandi Kassi, Rajouri.
During the session, he emphasised the vital role of social security in the present context and shed light on the key features of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, and the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976. These essential social security schemes have been extended to workers in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh since November 2019.
The workshop, which lasted for more than an hour, provided a platform for interaction between stakeholders and officials from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). Commissioner Rizwan Uddin addressed the concerns raised by establishments and employees. The session also featured a hands-on interactive segment, allowing participants to resolve problems related to the implementation of the EPF & MP Act, 1952.
Various topics were covered during the workshop, including member enrollment, UAN activation, bank and Aadhar seeding, online claim filing, filing of e-nominations, e-sign, and ECR filing. Additionally, any other relevant issues related to EPFO, as desired by officers or stakeholders, were discussed and appropriate actions were advised.
In his opening speech, Commissioner Rizwan Uddin highlighted the importance of enrolling employees under the PF and Pension Fund, citing recent incidents in Jammu & Kashmir where employees and employers had only remitted one month’s contribution, leaving families in financial distress after unexpected events. He emphasised the need for more employees to avail themselves of the benefits provided by these schemes.
During the event, participants expressed their appreciation for the efforts made by the EPFO team in creating awareness about these benefits. Employers acknowledged that they had not been adequately informed about these benefits in the past and expressed their willingness to enhance their employees’ membership in the schemes.
The workshop was also attended by other dignitaries, including Md Ishaq, Registrar of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Md Azam Shah, Retired Head Master, and Maulana Lal Uddin. Similar programs were organized at different locations, including the Conference Hall at GD Goenka Public School, Baramulla, and Siddhartha High School, Choskor, Leh, to educate representatives of establishments and employees about the services and benefits offered under the Social Security schemes. These initiatives are crucial steps towards enhancing awareness and ensuring the well-being of employees in the Union territories of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh.