New Delhi: Brushing aside allegations EPFO was shielding defaulters, Government today (Dec 14, 2004) said the recovery had jumped more than six-fold to Rs 5000.53 crore during 1999-2000 to 2003-04 and promised to come out with an action plan soon to further tone up the organisation.

Addressing the members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Labour Ministry for the first time, new Labour Minister and EPF (Employees Provident Fund) Board chairman K Chandrasekhar Rao said the 640 per cent rise in recovery had been mainly due to the special focus on assessment of dues and its recovery under the "Compliance 2001 Programme".

The Minister's statement comes in the backdrop of serious allegation levelled by Left Trade Unions that EPFO was steeped in corruption and gross mismanagement resulting in poor recovery, mainly from Central PSUs, following which it was decided for the first time that Committee members would have direct interaction with senior PF Commissioners.

Rao said the action plan would ensure that there were no instances of default and the recovery process was further tightened and added zonal meetings of PF commissioners would also be held in this regard.

More than 20 Regional Provident Fund Commissioners and five Additional Provident Fund Commissioners were present.

Rao said EPFO has developed an in-house computer programme to help it in tracking monthly compliance of establishments, action against defaulters and monitor updated accounts.