The Hindu : Social security number for PF subscribers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 23, 2003

National

National

Social security number for PF subscribers

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI FEB. 22. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation will soon start issuing a 14-digit Social Security Number (SSN) to facilitate identification of all PF subscribers regardless of their employer.

The numbering scheme will enable them to make enquiries about their account balance and the status of their settlement claims in any of the EPFO offices.

The SSN card, to be launched by the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in New Delhi on February 25, will avert transfer of the PF accounts in the event of the subscriber changing jobs, K.P. Babukutty, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner (in-charge) of the EPFO, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, told presspersons here today. Introduction of the SSN was a key component of the golden jubilee celebrations of the EPFO, which covers over 2.74 crore members in nearly 3.58 lakh establishments nationwide. Noting that the card would shortly be issued to the subscribers in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Babukutty said the State accounted for nearly 15 per cent of the PF members.

Pointing out that around 110 of the 260 EPFO offices in the country were already computerised, he said the SSN card, carrying the photograph and fingerprint of the subscriber, was a "preliminary step" towards covering workers in the unorganised sectors too.

The unique identification number was a key feature of the business process reengineering being undertaken by the EPFO, the other being re-tooling of the accounting system and procedure.

The EPFO, was also implementing a housing scheme for its members, especially those in the low-income group, in association with housing agencies and State Governments.

The EPFO would release initial funds up to a permissible limit from the PF balance of the members, with their consent. It would also facilitate payment towards equated monthly instalments to the housing agency, depending on the credit in their PF accounts.

The Tamil Nadu Housing Board had already submitted a list of plots and LIG flats available for allotment to EPF subscribers in various parts.

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