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An Orientation Programme for newly promoted Assistant Provident Fund Commissioners (APFCs) was inaugurated today at the Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya National Academy of Social Security (PDUNASS) by Shri Kumar Rohit, Director, PDUNASS.

A batch of thirty promoted officers from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has joined the Academy for a comprehensive three-week training programme. In his inaugural address, Shri Kumar Rohit welcomed the officer trainees and encouraged them to share their expectations from the course. The trainees responded enthusiastically, candidly expressing their aspirations and thereby setting a participatory and engaging tone for the programme.

The Director highlighted that the core objective of this orientation programme is to prepare the officers for their enhanced responsibilities as Group-A officers. Recognising their prior experience in EPFO, he urged them to fully utilise the training to strengthen their decision-making capabilities, leadership skills, and sense of accountability. He also encouraged them to learn from the best practices adopted by Direct Recruit APFCs (DR APFCs) who recently underwent similar training at the Academy.

Addressing the significance of behavioural competencies in public administration, Shri Rohit emphasised the importance of "Compassion in Governance"—a key session in the programme designed to help officer trainees lead with empathy and contribute to building a positive image of EPFO. Another key session on "Design Thinking" aims to instil a user-centric and innovative approach to problem-solving and policy implementation.

The orientation programme is structured around these thematic areas and includes a range of experiential learning activities, culminating in a four-day outbound training module focused on personal growth, team building, and leadership development.

The training has been meticulously curated by a team of experienced officers. Shri Ram Anand, RC-I, the Course Director, undertook an extensive preparatory exercise to ensure the programme's relevance and effectiveness. The course design has been developed under the guidance of Shri Rizwan Uddin, RC-I and Chief Learning Officer, with a focus on aligning the curriculum with the evolving organisational needs of EPFO. The outbound training component will be conducted by Shri Vijay Kumar, RC-I, who heads the Training Services Division at PDUNASS.

This orientation programme reflects PDUNASS’s ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning and capacity building, aimed at strengthening the leadership, integrity, and service delivery capabilities of EPFO’s officer cadre.

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Rini Choudhury/Anjelina Alexander

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