Nidhi Aapke Nikat: PF Commissioner conducts extensive tour of Kishtwar

Kishtwar, March 27:  Regional Commissioner Provident Fund Jammu Rizwan Uddin this weekend conducted an extensive tour of Kishtwar district with an aim to reach out to the people at their door step.

During the tour, the Commissioner held 'Nidhi Aapke Nikat' programmes at various places of district Kishtwar for the EPF beneficiaries and different stakeholders.

A public hearing-cum-awareness programme was organised at Conference Hall, DC Office Complex Kishtwar  for all the stakeholders and beneficiaries of  EPF of District Kishtwar under the patronage of Commissioner PF Rizwan Uddin in presence of Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Dr Devansh Yadav.

About 200 participants including District officers, employees and employers of various establishments,  private schools, NHIDCL and HEPP participated in the outreach programme.   

Rizwan Uddin said the aim of the program was to ensure broad based participation, awareness, grievances redressal and information exchange network closer to the stakeholders of EPFO at their doorsteps.

During the outreach programme awareness of the various provisions and benefits of various EPF schemes were given to participants through a PPT presentation by Enforcement officer Bipin Kumar. 

DC Kishtwar urged all the participants to avail outreach programme and get acquainted with various provisions of EPF besides get their grievances addressed onspot.

The P. F. Commissioner Rizwan Uddin also took an  opportunity to provide handholding support to the stakeholders besides hearing them (their suggestions, inputs and grievances).

On the occasion, P.F. Commissioner observed that Combined efforts of all stakeholders would help in extension of "social security" (through Pension and Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Schemes) to every working citizen of District.

During the programme the majority of grievances of EPF beneficiaries were addressed on spot.

The teachers of J N Memorial Shastri public school and Asraria High School Kishtwar on the occasion requested to update records. 

Directions were passed to the concerned EPDO officials  to process the request immediately.  PF Commissioner  further assured them regarding resolution of the issue at the earliest.

Later in another instance,  P. F. Commissioner chaired a meeting with the Officers of NHPC, CVPPL and HOPs of ongoing Hydroelectric Power Project.  A detailed insight into the various provisions of EPF schemes 1955,1995 were given to the participants. 

Various online initiatives of EPFO such as balance enquiry, filing of online claims including transfer and advance claims and members’ basic details were explained with hands on demonstration.

The role and responsibilities of the principal Employers and  significance of related online portal were also read out in the programme.QR code format was also distributed  among the stakeholders to digitally reach out the information regarding the EPF provisions.

Issues and problems faced by the various Organizations in implementing the EPF & MP Act. 1952 were also heard and necessary actions were taken accordingly. 

Detailed presentation on the Enrollment of the members, UAN Activation, Bank & Aadhaar Seeding, online claim filing, filing of e-nominations, e-sign, filing ECR was given by Bipin Kumar. 

Earlier on Sunday, PF Commissioner Rizwan Uddin visits Kiru Hydro Power Project currently being executed by Chenab Valley Power Project and met with workers at the Project Dam site.

He was accompanied by Bipin Kumar, Enforcement Officer, and Chandra Prakash, Sr Supervisor representing the Labour Department. 

The visit came after several workers complained of being deprived of social security benefits by several contractors, including M/s Om Prakash, M/s Raj Kumar, M/s San jay Parihar, M/s Raj Tour and Travels,and M/s Mohan, who were engaged by the major contractor M/s Patel Engineering.

The Commissioner and his team spoke with workers until 8 PM and took their details, including Aadhar numbers and phone numbers. The details will be verified from official records, and Chenab Valley Power Project Limited (CVPPL) will be advised to set right any irregularities promptly. 

The visit by the PF Commissioner has brought to light the issue of worker exploitation and the failure of major contractors to ensure the allotment of Universal Account Num- bers (UANS) to employees engaged by their contractors.

Universal Account Number (UAN) of 80 Labourers from Kiru HEP was generated by Patel Engineering Ltd during Nidhi Apke Nikat outreach programme with the intervention of P. F. Commissioner Jammu.