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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5827
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026
INITIATIVES FOR DIGITAL SERVICE DELIVERY UNDER EPFO
AND ESIC IN ODISHA
5827. SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of initiatives undertaken by the Government to improve
digital service delivery, grievance redressal and benefit access
under Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and
Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) in Odisha;
(b) whether any performance or service-delivery assessment has
been carried out with respect to timeliness of claims, pension
services and medical benefits in the said State;
(c) if so, the broad findings thereof; and
(d) the details of future steps proposed to be taken by the
Government to strengthen coverage and ease of access under
EPFO and ESIC in the said State?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (c): EPFO & ESIC have undertaken various initiatives to
improve digital service delivery, strengthen grievance redressal
mechanisms, and enhance stakeholders’ experience across India,
including Odisha, as detailed below:
In Respect of EPFO:
Auto Claim Settlement Enhancements - The auto claim
limit was increased from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5 Lakh in June 2025. In the
current financial year 3,52,20,199 claims up to Rs 5 Lakh
have been settled in auto mode up to 25.02.2026. The auto claim
settlement system has significantly improved efficiency of claim
settlement. 71.37% of total advance claims have been settled in auto
mode in the current Financial Year disbursing an amount of around
Rs.51,620 Crores.
Contd..2/-::2::
Pension Disbursement - EPFO rolled out Centralized
Pension Payment System (CPPS) pan India Since Jan 2025. CPPS
empowers pensioners to access their pension seamlessly from any
bank, any branch, anywhere in the country.
DLC submission using Facial Authentication Technology
(FAT) - Pensioners can now submit Digital Life Certificate (DLC) using
FAT by using Smart Phone anytime anywhere.
Free doorstep DLC service though IPPB - EPFO through
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has started free doorstep Digital
Life Certificate (DLC) service to EPS'95 pensioners. Pensioners who
are unable to submit DLC using FAT themselves can avail free
doorstep services of IPPB to submit their DLC.
Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0 – Held every month at district level
to promote direct interaction between EPFO and stakeholders for
grievance redressal and awareness.
In Respect of ESIC:
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has
implemented a comprehensive digital platform as part of its e-
governance initiatives to enhance delivery of social security services
across the country, including in the State of Odisha.
The platform has been designed to provide end-to-end
online services to a wide range of stakeholders, including employers,
insured persons, ESIC personnel, third-party service providers,
government agencies, and suppliers.
Through this digital ecosystem, key functions such as
employer and beneficiary registration, contribution payment,
disbursement of cash benefits, delivery and documentation of
medical services, and inventory management have been enabled in
an integrated manner.
Further, the availability of online portals and mobile based
applications has facilitated convenient access to benefit-related and
healthcare services for insured persons, thereby improving
transparency, efficiency, and accessibility of services, including in
Odisha.
Contd..3/-::3::
With regard to timeliness of EPFO claims, it is mandated
that claims, complete in all respects, are to be settled within 20 days.
Further, system performance and service delivery have
been strengthened through upgradation of IT infrastructure, including
enhanced server capacity, bandwidth, and load management
systems.
The performance of the Regions including Odisha
regarding timeliness of claims is assessed through the monthly report
and also visit by the senior officers.
(d): The Government has undertaken several initiatives to
strengthen social security coverage under ESIC and EPF.
The Government has launched Employee Enrollment
Campaign (EEC) for expanding the coverage of EPF. It provides a one-
time window for employers of all establishments to voluntarily enroll
eligible employees who were left out of EPF coverage between 1st
July 2017 and 31st October 2025.
Similarly, the Employees' State Insurance Corporation
(ESIC) has launched SPREE,2025 (Scheme to Promote Registration of
Employers/Employees) for the period from 1st July 2025 to 31st
December, 2025 and extended for one month’s period up to 31st
January, 2026. This scheme offers a one-time opportunity for
employers and employees who may have been inadvertently left out
of ESI coverage to register without concern for retrospective
coverage or punitive action.
Further, the Code on Social Security (CoSS), 2020 extends
EPFO coverage to all establishments and ESIC coverage to whole of
the country.
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