Joint ESIC-EPFO outreach program Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0 held at Kathua

Kathua, Oct 28: A significant outreach and awareness event, Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0 (Suvidha Samagam for ESIC), was held on Monday at the SICOP IID Centre, Conference Hall, Kathua, organized jointly by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Jammu and the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). The event aimed to address the grievances of workers and employers and increase awareness about social security provisions and grievance redressal mechanisms. Key officials, including Regional P.F. Commissioner Rizwan Uddin, RPFC-I, RO Jammu; Pankaj Rastogi, Regional Director of DTNBWED Jammu; and Ajeet Kumar Singh, Assistant Director ESIC, Jammu, were present to provide direct support to stakeholders.
Employers and employees from the region participated, discussing topics such as filing grievances on the EPFiGMS platform, utilizing other grievance filing portals like CPGRAMS, and understanding digital services. The program also emphasized employee rights and informed employers on the importance of enrolling all eligible employees under the social security schemes.
Employer representatives, including members of the Kathua Industry Association and several local industry leaders, raised issues around employee exits, enrollment of eligible employees, and challenges with contract workers. In response, the PF Commissioner encouraged proactive membership enrollment and clarified policies on employee eligibility. During the program, immediate solutions were offered for specific grievances, including updating personal details and correcting pension contribution errors.
Since November 2019, EPFO Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh have extended benefits under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 and Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976, with insurance coverage up to ₹7 lakh, ensuring broader social security for workers across the Union Territories. The EPFO remains open to suggestions and feedback to improve outreach and support, reaffirming its commitment to closer collaboration with stakeholders.