Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, today inaugurated the newly constructed Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Regional Office, Vatva, Gujarat. The event took place in the august presence of Shri Dinesh Makwana, Member of Parliament, Ahmedabad (West); Dr. Hasmukhbhai Patel, Member of Legislative Assembly, Amraiwadi, Ahmedabad; and Shri Amulbhai Bhatt, Member of Legislative Assembly, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, alongside senior officers and public representatives.

Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, in his address emphasised that the new building is not merely physical infrastructure but an “Aastha Ka Kendra”, a symbol of trust. Highlighting EPFO’s role in nation building, he noted the organisation’s contribution in safeguarding the hard-earned savings of crores of workers. “EPFO today holds a fund corpus of ₹28 lakh crore and provides 8.25% annual interest. If workers’ money is with EPFO, it carries the guarantee of the Government of India,” he said. Calling the new office a “Shramik Ka Mandir,” he remarked, “Only when we work with integrity, rooted in values, will we truly honour the Shram Shakti of our nation.”

During the programme, the Union Minister announced a series of major reforms for strengthening EPFO services nationwide. He stated that all upcoming and several existing EPFO offices are being redeveloped into modern, technology-enabled, passport-seva-kendra-style single-window service centres, enabling citizens to resolve any EPF-related issue at any regional office across the country. Highlighting that a pilot is underway in Delhi, Dr. Mandaviya said that going ahead, a beneficiary would be able to get his/her issues addressed at any regional office, doing away with the need to approach a specific office he/she has been previously associated with.

Dr. Mandaviya further added that to enhance access for workers, especially first-time users and those unfamiliar with digital systems, the Government will soon introduce the mechanism of EPF Suvidha Providers. These Suvidha Providers will be authorised facilitators to guide members in accessing benefits and resolving their issues, thereby acting as a bridge between citizens and EPFO.

Noting that a significant volume of workers’ money remains locked in inoperative accounts, Dr. Mandaviya underlined that EPFO will now undertake mission-mode KYC verification for such accounts while launching a dedicated digital platform to enable simplified claim filing and hassle-free settlement to the rightful claimant. Additionally, he stated that going ahead, India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), will incorporate social security protection provisions to ensure that Indian workers employed abroad are able to retain their PF contribution and access benefits even after their return to India, as seen in case of the India-UK FTA.

Dr. Mandaviya stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has witnessed a transformational expansion of social security. “Before 2014, as per ILO, India had only 19% social security coverage. Today, this has risen to 64%, with international organisations like the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Social Security Association (ISSA) commending India’s progress. Today, 94 crore people are covered under social security protection, making India the second-largest in the world in social security coverage after China. By March 2026, India will ensure coverage for 100 crore citizens,” he said. He noted that this expansion reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to a secure and dignified life for every worker.

Dr. Mandaviya emphasised that while the global economy continues to face challenges post-COVID, India stands resilient with a post-pandemic economic growth rate of 8.25%. “When the economy grows, income, consumption and manufacturing accelerate, leading to stronger employment generation. India’s unemployment rate today is only 3.2%, far lower than many countries,” he stated. Speaking on reforms, he said EPFO is continuously evolving with simplified and technology-led processes: settlements up to ₹5 lakh are now processed automatically, withdrawals up to 75% of EPF balance are permitted with ease, account transfers have been made seamless, and EPF-related issues can now be resolved at any EPFO regional office across the country, irrespective of the member’s home location.

During the event, the Union Minister also felicitated certain establishments that have contributed significantly to employment generation under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY). This initiative, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address this year, seeks to incentivize the creation of 3.5 crore jobs in the country over the next two years.

The EPFO Regional Office, Vatva has been catering to establishments and employees covered under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 across six districts of Gujarat, namely Ahmedabad (partial), Anand, Kheda, Amreli, Botad and Bhavnagar. As of December 2025, the office had jurisdiction over 7,013 contributing establishments, 3,97,676 contributory members, and nearly 21,000 pensioners.

The newly constructed Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan was built at an approximate cost of ₹10.12 crore, with a total built-up area of 1,723.46 square metres. The building incorporates modern and eco-friendly features such as a solar power plant, rainwater harvesting system, centralised air-conditioning, power back-up generator, and underground parking, keeping in view the needs of subscribers, pensioners, differently-abled persons, and employees of the organisation.

Strategically located near National Highway-48 (NH-48), Rabari Colony Metro Station, and BRTS CTM Bus Stop, the new facility is expected to provide enhanced accessibility, seamless connectivity, and a more efficient, citizen-centric service delivery environment for all stakeholders.

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Rini Choudhury/Anjelina Alexander