EPFO panel skirts proposal on 8.5% interest on deposits

Provident fund deposits are likely to fetch a return of at least 8.5 per cent in the current fiscal, partially higher than the 8.25 per cent interest rate set for 2011-12.

"An 8.5 per cent interest rate is feasible. Even a partially higher interest rate of 8.6 per cent could result in a deficit of Rs 240.49 crore," the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) said, in a proposal placed before its investment advisory body — the Finance and Investment Committee (FIC), on Friday.

The calculations are based on an estimated income of Rs 21,146.96 crore to the EPFO from investments in 2011-12.

However, about Rs 350 crore are required for updating 38 lakh accounts of members for the last fiscal, leaving the retirement fund manager with Rs 20,796.96 crore for 2012-13.

But this may not be the last word on interest rates as members of the FIC refused to discuss the proposal since the EPFO had placed it before them at the last minute.

Instead, the committee led by Central Provident Fund Commissioner, chose to directly forward the issue to the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) to take a final call on the issue.

The CBT, the EPFO's apex decision making body headed by labour minister Mallikarjun Kharge, is scheduled to meet on February 25.

"What is the point in springing such an issue before us at the last minute when there can be no proposer decision. They can take it directly to the CBT now," said AD Nagpal, member of the FIC and secretary, Hind Mazdoor Sabha.

This was agreed to by BN Rai, another member of the FIC and secretary, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh and said, "For the first time in history, the interest rate proposal was brought as a table item before the FIC. This is against ethics and without any details on income and liabilities, we cannot take a decision."

... contd.

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