The regional office of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in Lucknow has achieved a significant milestone in the current financial year. It has successfully settled a record-breaking four lakh claims, leading to the disbursement of a massive sum of Rs 1,013 crore to beneficiaries.
A Record Year for Claim Settlement
Officials highlighted this achievement as a testament to improved efficiency. Regional Provident Fund Commissioner Ashwini Kumar Gupta revealed that the Lucknow jurisdiction, which covers six districts including Lucknow, Sitapur, Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri, Barabanki, and Rae Bareli, manages a vast network. This network includes 39,580 establishments, 5.16 lakh active members, and approximately 70,000 pensioners.
A key factor behind this speedy settlement was the use of automation. Gupta noted that half of all the settled claims were processed automatically, significantly reducing the time taken to deliver services to members and pensioners.
Final Call for Employers: EPF Enrolment Amnesty 2025
Building on this momentum of efficient service, the EPFO has now launched a crucial campaign aimed at employers. Named the Employees Enrolment Scheme 2025, this initiative is a one-time amnesty opportunity for establishments that are not yet covered under the EPF scheme.
The scheme offers a final window for these employers to obtain coverage and register employees who joined their service between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025. In a major relief, the scheme provides a waiver on past employee contributions if they were not deducted earlier.
Employers are only required to deposit their own share of contributions, along with applicable interest, administrative charges, and a nominal penalty of just Rs 100. This move is designed to bring a larger workforce into the formal social security net with minimal financial burden on employers.
Synergy with Government's Employment Scheme
This amnesty drive aligns perfectly with the central government's Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY). This linked scheme provides direct financial incentives to boost formal employment. Under PM-VBRY, first-time employees in the formal sector can receive support of up to Rs 15,000, while employers get an incentive of Rs 3,000 per month for each new hire.
The integration of these schemes creates a powerful push for formalisation. The response in the Lucknow region has been positive, with 1,086 employers already registered under the PM-VBRY to avail its benefits.
Officials have made a strong appeal to all eligible employers across the six districts to leverage this combined opportunity. It allows them to comply with EPF regulations affordably while also accessing government incentives for creating new jobs, ultimately contributing to a more secure workforce in Uttar Pradesh.
