1 March
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
In a recent press conference, the Congress party raised concerns over a stark increase in the rejection rate of provident fund claims, attributing the alarming trend to the implementation of the online system by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). Party General Secretary, Jairam Ramesh, asserted that the online transition has led to a surge in rejected claims, leaving many retired employees grappling with financial distress.
Ramesh went on to claim, in a social media post, that the insensitivity of EPFO’s policies has driven some retired individuals to drastic measures like suicide. He argued that hardworking individuals are being denied access to their rightfully earned funds, pointing to the distressing statistics. The rejection rate for the final settlement of Provident Fund (PF) claims has risen significantly, with one in three claims now facing rejection—a 13 percent increase since 2017-18.
The EPFO, responsible for managing the Provident Fund for India’s workers, now faces scrutiny for the adverse impact of its online system. As the rejection rates climb, questions arise about the efficacy of the new system and its consequences on the financial well-being of retired workers across the nation.