Bhubaneswar | Sept 20, 2016: In a step aimed to benefit over 5 lakh coal mines workers across the country, Aadhaar number would now be linked to their provident fund and treated as the PF number.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting attended by Directors (Personnel) of all subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL), Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO) Commissioner B K Panda and heads of regional offices of CMPFO at Puri on Friday, an official said.

"It was decided that Aadhaar number will be treated as the Coal Mines Provident Fund number. This proposal is to be implemented with effect from December 25, 2016 which is observed as the Good Governance day," Director (Personnel) of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), L N Mishra said.

Coal mines employees, particularly the contractual workers engaged through a number of contractors and those in the unorganised sector would be benefited by the decision, Mr Mishra said.

The meeting also decided to create a data base of coal mine workers and develop a portal so that any employee can access the CMPFO using the Aadhaar number and get details of PF, pension and status of application, Mr Mishra said.

CMPFO also plans to provide status of claim, PF balance, pension payment through SMS services from the Good Governance Day, he said.

Stating that CIL alone has over 3.5 lakh workers, he said all these new measures would benefit more than 5 lakh coal mines employees, mainly contractual workers.

(Source: http://energyinfrapost.com/)