Parliament Question: Enrolment under EPF

**Executive Summary** This document provides a response to Starred Question No. 126 in Lok Sabha, concerning the enrolment of certain workers under the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF). It details the existing minimum salary limit for EPF enrolment and explains the reasons why ASHA, Anganwadi, and Mid-Day Meal workers are not currently enrolled under the EPF. The response was tabled on 09.02.2026. **Key Points / Main Content** * **EPF Scheme:** * As per the EPF Scheme, 1952, all employees of establishments registered with EPFO drawing a wage up to Rs. 15,000/- are required to be covered. * This scheme only applies to employees in the organized sector. * **ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists):** * ASHAs are community health volunteers who receive fixed monthly incentives and performance-based incentives. * States/UTs may provide additional State-specific incentives. * ASHAs are enrolled in Social Security Schemes like PM-SYM, PMJJBY, and PMSBY as per eligibility norms and are provided with health care annual coverage of ₹ 5 Lakhs under ABPMJAY. * Support for ASHA workers is the responsibility of State/UT governments, with technical and financial support from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. * **Anganwadi Workers (AWW) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWH):** * AWWs and AWHs are honorary workers provided with a monthly honorarium. * State Governments may supplement this honorarium. * AWWs and AWHs along with their family members are also provided with health care annual coverage of ₹ 5 Lakhs under ABPMJAY. * **Cook-cum-Helpers (CCH):** * CCHs under the PM Poshan Scheme are honorary workers and receive honorarium for services. * States can supplement this with funds from their budget. * **Social Security Schemes:** * Anganwadi Workers, Anganwadi Helpers and Cook-cum-Helpers can also enroll in Social Security Schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan (PM-SYM), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (PMSBY) as per the eligibility norms. * **Central Government Role:** * The Central Government provides the policy framework, guidelines, and funding on a cost-sharing basis. * The primary responsibility for implementing these schemes lies with the respective State/UT governments. **Impact Analysis** **Impact: ASHA, Anganwadi, and Mid-Day Meal Workers** * **Impact:** These workers are not eligible for enrolment under the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) as they are considered honorary workers or community health volunteers and not employees of the organized sector. They receive incentives, honorariums, and are covered under other social security and health insurance schemes. * **Action Required:** No direct action required from these workers. They should continue to avail of the incentives, honorariums, social security schemes, and health insurance programs as applicable to them. **Impact: State/UT Governments** * **Impact:** State/UT governments are primarily responsible for supporting ASHA workers and implementing the relevant schemes for Anganwadi workers and Cook-cum-Helpers, including providing additional incentives and topping up honorariums. They are also responsible for the implementation of social security schemes. * **Action Required:** Continue to provide support to ASHA workers and ensure that Anganwadi workers and Cook-cum-Helpers have access to social security schemes and health insurance programs. Implement and manage these schemes effectively. **Impact: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare** * **Impact:** The ministry is responsible for providing technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen their public healthcare system. * **Action Required:** Continue to provide technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen their public healthcare system, based on their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and within the overall resource allocation.

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