The Hindu Business Line : PF office next month in Karimnagar dist

IN a move that would benefit the over a lakh employees of the Singareni Coal Company Ltd (SCCL), the Union Coal Ministry has decided to open a provident fund (PF) office in Godavarikhani in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.

The Union Coal Minister, Ms Uma Bharati, has directed the Commissioner, Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation to open the office by the middle of next month, according to an official release here.

Reviewing the pendency of PF cases and other advances at a meeting with the officers of the Ministry in the Capital, the Minister asked the Commissioner to sete a time schedule for settling such payments.

Ms Bharati also asked the Coal Mines PF Organisation to modernise its offices including computerisation for speedy disposal.

Currently, the needs of the workers of SCCL were being met by the Regional Provident Fund office in Hyderabad. Incidentally, a PF office set up in Kothagudem in Karimnagar district in 1963 was shifted to the Hyderabad Regional PF office in 1973. Since then, the large workforce of the coal company have been facing problems of delays.

The Coal Ministry decision follows several representations by the SCCL workers since 1973 and support from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), MP, Ms C. Suguna Kumari, who raised the issue at the Parliamentary Consultative Committee Meetings of the Ministry of Coal, the release said.

The office to be opened at Godavarikhani next month would work as a sub-office of the Regional PF office in Hyderabad.

With an office in Godavarikhani, workers would be saved the bother of travelling all the way to Hyderabad to settle claims relating to marriage, children's education and house building.

The huge pendancy in cases would also be reduced fast.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Comment on this article to BLFeedback@thehindu.co.in

Stories in this Section
CII study sees higher growth in H2

Economic growth versus social impact

Globalisation best way to erase poverty, says Prof Bhagwati

HC asks AP Govt to scrap Hepatitis-B vaccine tender

Focus on Bangalore outskirts

Bengal Govt set to take on power regulatory body

Tax administration in for major revamp

Tyre cos planning more rubber imports

Steps to promote `water literacy'

Passenger car sales rise 7.6% in November