24/05/2022: (JKNN/ST) The widows and three children each of two local, deceased workers, who lost their precious lives in the collapsed tunnel in Ramban, are entitled to Pension that will be provided by EPFO.
Assistance provided to the family members of the deceased at their doorstep by Shri Rizwan Uddin, P.F Commissioner himself along with Mr. Zahoor Ahmed, Sarpanch of the village, Shri Zabaar, Revenue Consultant of NHAI, Mr. Amin of NHAI, Mr. Govind from M/s Sarla Projects, Mr. Davinder, Site Engineer of NHAI.
Taking EPFO services to the doorstep of PF members and their families
EPFO has always remained at the forefront of providing social security to the members and their dependents in times of their hardships. In this spirit, Shri Rizwan Uddin, Regional P.F Commissioner – I, EPFO RO Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh tookcognizance of the recent tragic event of collapse of under construction tunnel on 19.05.2022 at Khooni-Naalah in Ramban districtin which many workers got trapped in the debris and lost their lives. In this connection, he undertook the initiative of reaching out to the family members for providing assistance to them in claiming their eligible Provident Fund, insurance and Pension benefits under the EPF & MP Act, 1952 and the schemes framed thereunder.
PF Claim Forms handed over to the deceased members’ families
Shri Rizwan Uddin, RPFC – Ialong withvisited NHAI’s Project Implementation Unit- Ramban office on 24.05.2022 to facilitate the families of deceased employees. P.F Commissioner visited the spot and met with families of workers who lost their lives in the project (Construction of twin tube tunnels from Digdole to Panthyal). He ensured to help them in every possible way inavailing their eligible PF, Pension and Insurance benefits. A Composite Claim Form and Form 10-D (pension form) was supplied to the families of deceased employees (Shri Ishrat and Shri Mohd. Muzaffar).Alongside, the P.F Commissioner directed the representatives of NHAI Shri Shubham Yadav, Dy. Manager and M/s. Sarla Projects Works Private Ltd.Shri B. S. Raju, Project Managerto submit the duly filled Forms along with requisite documents to Regional Office in Hyderabad as the establishment where the workers were employed was registered under the EPFO Regional Office, Hyderabad.
P.F Commissioner along with Shri Devender Singh, site incharge and representative of NHAI, Shri Abdul Zabbar, retired tehsildar and Shri Govind, representative of M/s. Sarla Projects Works Pvt. Ltd. also visited village Panthyal, Ramban by walking over two kilometres through the tough terrains to facilitate submission of composite form for pension, Insurance and P.F. The nominee/ widow and children of aforesaid two members prima facie appears to be entitled to Pension as the members wages as stated by the family members fell within the eligibility limit. Besides that, nominee will get Insurance and P.F accumulations with interest.
Encouraging establishments to increase PF compliance
The P.F Commissioner also chaired a meeting with representatives of all the contractor companies working under NHAI, PIU-Ramban and advised them to follow good industrial practice and take proper care of their workers like opening their P.F A/c and depositing their PF dues on time in their respective account. Some of the establishments namely M/s Gammon Engineers and Contractors Pvt. Ltd., M/s Dinesh Chandra R. Agrawal were advised to ensure that outstanding dues are remitted within two days. Contractors and NHAI were also advised to ensure that the Universal Account Number (UAN) is generated in respect of all the workers on the date of their joining.
A day earlier on 23.05.2022, an awareness programme was conducted by Shri Rizwan Uddin, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I at Banihal, regarding The Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. Representatives of Ircon International Limited (A Government PSU) participated in the programme.
In light of recent tragic incident in Ramban, the P.F Commissioner highlighting the importance of e-nomination told that to ensure social security of the family members of its subscribers, EPFO gives Provident Fund (PF) nomination facility to all EPFO members. Now, an EPFO member can submit EPF, EPS nomination digitally by logging in at the EPFO website — www.epfindia.gov.in. However, an EPF account holder must remember that he or she can change its EPF or PF account nominee by filing new PF nomination.
Date: 24.05.2022
Regional Office, Jammu
Employees’ Provident Fund .
