Govt to join hands with banks,
housing firms
- The ministry intends to
collaborate with PSU banks, housing finance companies, state-owned construction
firms like NBCC and authorities like DDA, PUDA, HUDA to build houses at prices
to be fixed by the govt
- A committee comprising EPFO
trustees and senior Labour Ministry officials is working on the proposal
New Delhi, July 10
Retirement fund body EPFO is
considering a scheme for its subscribers so that they are able to own a house
by retirement, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said here today.
"We have to see that by
retirement every EPFO subscriber has his own house... We are considering
this," he said while unveiling 'Nidhi Aapke Nikat' or 'PF Near You', a
public outreach initiative for its 6 crore members.
While he did not provide details of
the scheme, sources said the ministry intends to collaborate with PSU banks,
housing finance companies, state-owned construction firms like NBCC and
authorities like DDA, PUDA, HUDA to build houses at prices to be fixed by the
government.
EPFO's Central Provident Fund
Commissioner KK Jalan later said a committee comprising EPFO trustees and
senior Labour Ministry officials was working on the proposal.
The panel is expected to submit its
report soon.
He also said EPFO had proposed to
increase the maximum sum assured under the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance
Scheme 1976 to Rs 4.5 lakh, from Rs 3.6 lakh.
At present, there are over 70% EPFO
subscribers whose basic wages are less than Rs 15,000 per month who could
benefit from the scheme.
EPFO's plan comes against the
backdrop of the Centre's recently launched mission — 'Housing for All by 2022'.
Dattatreya also said the EPFO would
soon launch a service to provide details of subscribers account on their mobile
phones.
Jalan said the EPFO was in the
process of launching a mobile application for availing services like passbook
details. The app will be launched by year-end, he added.
The 'Nidhi Aapke Nikat' initiative
is aimed at increasing the interaction between the various stakeholders of
EPFO.
The 'PF Near You' would replace
Bhavishyanidhi Adalat and would be held on 10th of every month starting from
July, 2015.
The
programme was observed at all the 122 offices of the EPFO in the country. — PTI
