EPFO WhatsApp helpline: Subscribers of EPFO can opt for a speedy method for redressal of their grievances. The retirement fund body has launched a WhatsApp helpline service for the same. Notably, this facility is in addition to various other means of grievance redressal forums of EPFO which include EPFiGMS portal, CPGRAMS, social media platforms (Facebook & Twitter), and a dedicated 24×7 call center.
This initiative will allow the PF subscribers to interact directly with EPFO’s regional offices at a personalized level adhering to the one-to-one guidance principle.
“To further enhance ease of living experience for its members, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has now launched a WhatsApp based helpline-cum-grievance redressal mechanism, under its series of Nirbadh initiatives aimed at ensuring seamless and uninterrupted service delivery to subscribers during COVID-19 pandemic,” the labor ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
WhatsApp helpline is now functional in all the 138 regional offices of EPFO. Any stakeholder can simply file a grievance or seek guidance on any queries relating to services provided by EPFO, by putting a WhatsApp message on the helpline number of the concerned regional office where the PF account is maintained. Dedicated WhatsApp helpline numbers of all regional offices are available at the homepage of EPFO’s official website.
The helpline aims to make the subscribers self-reliant by taking digital initiatives of EPFO to the last mile, thereby reducing dependence on intermediaries.
To ensure the expeditious resolution of the grievance and reply to the queries raised on WhatsApp, each regional office has been equipped with a dedicated team of experts.
The ease of raising queries and grievances on WhatsApp will drastically reduce the need for the subscribers to physically visit EPFO’s office. This in turn will help maintain social distancing in EPFO’s workplace during the pandemic.
The helpline has already gained immense popularity among stakeholders.
Mrean-while, India’s COVID-19 caseload rose to 73,70,468 with 63,371 new infections being reported in a day, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease crossed 64 lakh pushing the recovery rate to 87.56 per cent, according to the Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
The coronavirus deaths climbed to 1,12,161 with the virus claiming 895 lives in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. For eight days in a row, the active cases of COVID-19 remained below 9 lakh.
There are 8,04,528 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 10.92 per cent of the total caseload, while the recoveries have surged to 64,53,779, the data stated. The COVID-19 case fatality rate due COVID-19 was recorded at 1.52 per cent.
“India continues to have one of the lowest COVID-19 deaths per million population globally, currently pegged at 80,” the ministry said.
