The State government is committed to creating opportunities and providing essential support systems for the economic empowerment and self-reliance of the poor and marginalised sections of society, E. Annapurna, Sandur MLA, said.

She was inaugurating a large-scale public outreach programme organised by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Ballari Regional Office, at the Gemax Auditorium in the JSW Township at Toranagallu on Friday under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana.

Ms. Annapurna said that Sandur taluk was largely surrounded by hills and had limited cultivable land, making industries such as JSW a major source of livelihood for residents. She urged the company to continue prioritising employment generation and livelihood security for people in the region.

Referring to health concerns in industrial areas, she said residents living around industrial clusters were facing various health issues due to exposure to polluted air and called upon JSW to pay special attention to the matter. She also appealed to the company to establish a well-equipped and free hospital in the taluk for the benefit of the mine workers and economically weaker sections.

Describing JSW as an integral part of Sandur’s identity, the MLA said the company had significantly contributed to the development of the region through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives and social welfare programmes.

She expressed hope that the industries would continue to expand, contribute more to the country’s growth, and generate greater employment opportunities for the youth.

Speaking on the occasion, EPFO Regional Commissioner K.V. Praveen said the scheme applied to first-time employees receiving EPFO coverage. He said 1,374 newly employed workers in the Ballari region had so far become eligible for direct financial assistance under the scheme.

He added that while some components of the programme directly benefited new employees, others provided financial incentives to employers. As many as 248 employer establishments in the Ballari region had already availed themselves of the scheme’s benefits.

Mr. Praveen said the initiative had emerged as a significant source of financial support for both employees and employers and was expected to strengthen formal employment in the region.

Participants also watched a live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributing incentive benefits to eligible first-time employees at a programme held at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

Later, certificates relating to incentive benefits were distributed to employees who had recently joined the workforce and obtained EPFO accounts for the first time.

Tahsildar Vishwajit Mehta from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, senior EPFO officials, representatives of JSW, employer organisations and employees were present.