Employees‘ Provident Funds Organisation in association with Office of the Labour Commissioner Government of Nagaland organised an Awareness Programme on EPF (Employee’s Provident Funds) And PM- VBRY ( Prime Minister Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana) Scheme at the Directorate of Employment, Skill Development and Enterprise, Kohima on 8th September 2025.
Commissioner & Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Sotsula, IAS, described the EPF as one of the most significant social security schemes in the country. She noted that it not only insures financial stability for employees and their families but also cultivates a culture of savings during their service years while providing a secure foundation after retirement.
Let us view the Employees’ Provident Fund not merely as a compliance measure but as an investment for the welfare and future of our people, she remarked, urging employers and employees alike to recognise the long-term value of the scheme.
Sotsula further underlined the importance of awareness and participation, stating that a stronger society could be built when more workers are brought under the ambit of social security. By spreading awareness and ensuring active participation, we can create a system that guarantees stability, protection, and dignity for all sections of the workforce, she added.
Turning her attention to the Prime Minister’s Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY), the Commissioner & Secretary highlighted its potential to expand the reach of EPFO benefits in Nagaland. She said the scheme presents a unique opportunity to extend social security to workers in the unorganised and traditional sectors, many of whom have little or no knowledge of the EPF framework.
She maintained that with active collaboration between the State Government and the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), more workers across various sectors can be brought under provident fund protection, thereby safeguarding their financial future.
Encouraging employees to actively participate, she appealed to the workforce to adopt the scheme, stressing that it would not only secure their own future but also contribute towards building a robust and inclusive social security system in the State.
Sotsula concluded her address by reiterating the Government’s commitment to working in close partnership with the EPFO to ensure that the benefits of EPF and PM-VBRY reach the maximum number of workers across Nagaland.
Commandant of Assam Rifles, Kohima, M.A. Farooqi, stressed the equal importance of social and financial security for every citizen. Speaking at an awareness programme, he lauded the efforts of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), describing it as an institution that has been doing excellent work in ensuring financial protection and stability for the working population.
Farooqi added that such awareness programmes are valuable as they spread knowledge about various schemes and their benefits. He noted that these initiatives also help boost the confidence and morale of citizens who are availing the benefits.
Addressing the gathering on the theme “MSME Development and Social Security: Unlocking Growth through EPF & PM-VBRY,” Joint Director of Industries & Commerce, K. Francis Hekavi, highlighted the vision and opportunities offered by the Prime Minister’s Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY). He explained that the scheme is designed to focus on job creation and social security measures with the larger goal of building a Developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.
Hekavi informed that the scheme has a budget outlay of ₹99,446 crore, with the aim of creating 3.5 crore jobs within two years, particularly for first-time workers. He emphasised that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector has a critical role to play in achieving this target. As the facilitator for MSME activities in the State, the Department of Industries and Commerce, he said, welcomes this new initiative, which is expected to benefit industrial workers, especially first-timers and employers.
He described the MSME sector as one of the most important pillars of the Indian economy, contributing significantly to economic growth through its vast network of about 5.93 crore units that provide employment to nearly 25 crore people.
Hekavi stated that in smaller states like Nagaland, one mainly refers to micro and small enterprises, which are labour-intensive and provide more employment opportunities than large-scale industries. He added that the PM-VBRY scheme fits well into this context, as it is expected to encourage industrial growth, generate employment, and address the challenge of unemployment in the region.
Sharing data from the Udyam Portal, Hekavi said Nagaland currently has 40,316 registered MSME units, of which 40,127 are micro, 173 small, and 16 medium enterprises. Among these, 12,899 are manufacturing units and 27,417 are service-based. He noted that the Department of Industries and Commerce has been actively leveraging information about various schemes and benefits under the MSME sector to promote entrepreneurship and enterprise development in the State. By creating awareness, facilitating access to government initiatives, and guiding entrepreneurs to avail the available benefits, the department has been working to strengthen local industries and encourage new business ventures. He added that such efforts are aimed at nurturing innovation, generating employment, and building a stronger and more self-reliant economy for Nagaland.
He further stated that industrial development has been a priority of the department, and that the EPF and PM-VBRY schemes will serve as powerful engines to boost enterprise growth in Nagaland. Concluding his address, Hekavi called on all departments and stakeholders to take advantage of the schemes so that the livelihoods of employees are improved, productivity in both quality and quantity is enhanced, and Nagaland is steered towards becoming a vibrant and sustainable economy.
The programme also featured a presentation on the EPF scheme, followed by an interactive session with stakeholders, led by Regional P.F. Commissioner-II, Samuel Das, and Regional P.F. Commissioner-I, Dr. T. John Jugli.
(Kazuhito, IA)