EPFO seeks feedback of field offices to avoid affidavits

In a bid to do away with the requirement of submission of affidavits by its subscribers and employers, retirement fund body EPFO has started the process for the purpose and sought comments from its field formations.
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has started this process following Prime Minister Prime Minister Narendra Modi push to allow people to self-attest their official documents.
The new government has already shown its intend to make dealing with government offices and agencies simple. At present in many cases, people have to file notarised affidavits and copies of the documents attested by gazetted officers.
"A feedback is required on the affidavit which are required to be submitted by the PF members or the employers EPF office. Whether such affidavits which are not required, can be abolished and only self attestation can serve the purpose. Only those affidavit need to be retained which are essentially required," an EPFO office circular said.

According to a senior official, there is hardly any need for submission of affidavits by the members or employers as far as settlement of claims is concerned or otherwise.
However, he said in some cases where applicants don't possess certain documents to prove his or her credentials are required to submit affidavits to the EPFO office.
EPFO headquarters has asked its field offices to provide their feedback in this regard by September 9.
The body is likely to take a decision in this regard after doing due diligence based on the feedback from field offices and dispense with the requirement of filing affidavits in specified instances or cases.