Question : PENDING CASES OF P.F.

(a) whether the EPFO has decided to settle all the disputes relating to Provident Fund within three days of their receipt;

(b) if so, the details and the facts thereof;

(c) whether the Government propose to allot a National Security number to all the Provident Fund Account holders;

(d) if so, the benefits likely to accrue to them;

(e) the number of cases of Provident Fund pending with his Ministry wherein Provident Fund amount has not been fully paid to the concerned employees even after their retirement; and

(f) by when the Government are likely to dispose of the pending cases of the Provident Fund?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a) & (b): The Employees Provident Fund Organisation has taken up the task of modernization through the project `Re-inventing EPF India` which will provide, inter-alia, networking of all Provident Fund offices to facilitate settlement of claims within two to three days.

(c): Yes, Sir.

(d): The advantages that would accrue to the members are as under:-

- In an employment lifetime a worker is likely to shift or move from one employment to another several times. This trend is likely to increase in the new economic scenario. The unique Social Security Number will facilitate easy and trouble free maintenance of his Provident Fund account with changes in employment.

- The present dependence of the members on the employers for their identification while preferring claims or transacting with the Organisation would be obviated, thus reducing the interface burden on the members. The number would also facilitate `anytime, anywhere` access to their accounts.

(e) & (f): Information is being collected.