16th Zonal Review Meeting of EPFO Commences, Emphasizing Progress and Targets

New Delhi: The 16th Zonal Review Meeting of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) commenced on April 30, 2024, inaugurated by Sumita Dawra, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour & Employment. The event witnessed the presence of Neelam Shami Rao, Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC), Alok Mishra, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and senior officers of EPFO.

The meeting served as a platform to review the progress made over the past year, identify areas of success, discuss strategies for improvement, and establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets for the fiscal year 2024-25. Participating zones shared their best practices, encouraging others to adopt similar approaches.

Sumita Dawra underscored the significant role and responsibility of EPFO as one of the largest social security organizations entrusted with managing the needs of millions of members. She highlighted key performance indicators for EPFO, including the expansion of social security coverage, expedited settlement of claims, reduced claim rejection rates, enhanced IT systems, pension facilitation, and improved ease of doing business for employers.

The Secretary emphasized the need for operational optimization across all aspects, from claim processing to digital service expansion, to ensure EPFO effectively meets stakeholder needs. She commended EPFO’s efforts in implementing auto-settlement of advance claims and stressed the importance of initiatives such as centralized IT-enabled databases, universal account numbers for members, and streamlined claim settlement processes.

Acknowledging EPFO’s achievements in significantly reducing grievance disposal times and processing claims within stipulated time frames, Ms. Dawra congratulated the team on their exemplary work over the past year, urging them to maintain the momentum.

Neelam Shami Rao, CPFC, emphasized both short-term and long-term organizational goals, urging a comprehensive review of achievements and shortcomings from the previous financial year. She highlighted concerns regarding return rejection ratios and commended the collective efforts of the EPFO team.

Alok Mishra, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, reiterated the crucial role of EPFO within the social security system of the country. He emphasized the significance of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PDUNASS) as a center for research and study, underlining its importance in guiding future strategies.