Rs 12.44 crore disbursed as COVID-19 advance by EPFO, Guwahati

Guwahati, Jul 28
EPFO, Regional Office, Guwahati has disbursed non-refundable Covid-19 advance to the tune of Rs 12.44 Crore to 5697 EPF members to enable them to deal with Covid-19 induced financial exigencies during the month of March to June, 2020. This was stated in a press release issued by P Hangsing Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I, Guwahati. In another first of its kind, a sum of Rs 6.35 crore representing 24% of wages towards EPF contributions have been released by the Government of India to eligible EPF registered employers as subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY). The subsidy released will benefit 15937 EPF members.
This benefit will be available for 6 months of the current financial year commencing March upto August, 2020, the release said. Efforts are on to create more awareness among the Employers to avail the subsidy for the benefit of at least 85000 employees as per the department own estimates.
Recalling the intermittent Nationwide lockdown beginning from March 24, 2020, P Hangsing, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Guwahati asserted that EPFO, Guwahati stood firm in its resolve to extend uninterrupted services to meet the dire financial needs of valued EPF members during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Claims of EPF members such as Provident Fund, Pension and Deposit-linked-Insurance besides various other Advance applications continue to be received and settled all within 20days. A total of 18775 claims & Advances were settled during the period 1/04/2020 upto 30/06/2020 with a resultant disbursal of Rs 79,27,42,608 to the EPF members, the release added.
Monthly pension continued to be released on the first working day of each month to about 26,343 EPS’95 Pensioners with an approximate monthly outflow of Rs 4,71,75,395. Disbursement of Pension in time has been ensured despite disruption in normal Banking services, at times, in the event of state wide lockdown, the release further observed.
Emphasizing on the priority accorded to default management and recovery of PF dues from delinquent employers, P Hangsing, Regional PF Commissioner informed that current dues amounting to Rs 1819.47 lakh were recovered during previous financial year from defaulting establishments. A large chunk of Rs 1693.12 lakh yet to be recovered pertains to State Public Sector Undertaking (SPSU) and is expected to be recovered during the current financial year. Damages for delayed payment of EPF contribution were levied on defaulting establishments to the tune of Rs 1333.43 crore during the preceding year out which Rs 1300.24 crore have been recovered. The arrear recoverable Demand stood at Rs 377.32 lakh out of which Rs 157.34 lakh have so far been recovered.
The release further called upon employers of all EPF registered establishments to ensure immediate seeding of Aadhar, PAN and Bank details with KYC of their employees. Only online Claims shall be entertained w.e.f August, 2020.
Photo and physical claims if submitted shall summarily be rejected, except death cases. Aadhar Enrolment Centre is also operational at the EPFO office premises for the benefit of EPF members. This facility must be availed by the Employers to ensure expeditious Aadhar registration and seeding with KYC in compliance with statutory requirement. This will also enable employees of PMGKY eligible establishments to avail the subsidy till August 2020 the release said.