JAMMU: In a significant step towards strengthening social security services in Ladakh, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has, for the first time, started settling provident fund claims pertaining to the Regional Office Ladakh from Leh itself.
As part of the initiative, 42 claims amounting to ₹14,32,574 have already been processed locally at Leh.
Since the establishment of EPFO offices in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, account-related work concerning Ladakh had been handled by the Regional Office Jammu, requiring subscribers in Ladakh to have their claims processed from Jammu, located more than 650 km away.
The commencement of claim settlement from Leh marks a shift towards more decentralised, accessible and efficient delivery of EPFO services, reducing dependence on Jammu and enabling members to access services closer to their place of residence.
The move is expected to assume particular importance given the geographical challenges faced by subscribers in Ladakh and is aimed at facilitating faster resolution of claims while reducing the need for long-distance travel.
Ajay K Mehra, Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioner, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, said the initiative would improve efficiency and significantly enhance accessibility of EPFO services in the region.
He said the move would support ease of living and ease of doing business for more than 7,800 subscribers and 2,700 establishments registered with EPFO in Ladakh. It is also expected to expand EPFO’s footprint in the Union Territory and provide impetus to the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, Vishwas Scheme and Employees’ Enrolment Campaign 2026.
The ongoing implementation of CITES 2.0 is expected to further streamline the claim settlement process through auto-mode processing and reduce the need for physical intervention at the Regional Office level.
Mehra also said EPFO was undertaking systematic and phased upgradation of the Regional Office Ladakh and taking steps for acquisition of a new office building to provide comprehensive services to subscribers in the region.
The proposed infrastructure will include member-centric facilities, including an environment-controlled waiting area, to create a more comfortable and accessible service environment.
He also appreciated the efforts of Sumeet Singh, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I, Regional Office Jammu, and officers and staff of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for establishing the infrastructure and operational arrangements required for local claim settlement.
