EPFO Lucknow Ramps Up Efforts for Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana Registration
The Lucknow regional office of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has significantly intensified its outreach initiatives, strongly encouraging all eligible establishments to promptly register under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana. This flagship employment-linked incentive scheme was prominently announced in the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, aiming to boost formal employment across the nation.
Current Registration Statistics and Outreach Drive
According to official data released by the EPFO Lucknow office, out of a total of 6,728 eligible employers identified in the region, an impressive 4,062 establishments have successfully completed their registration process so far. This proactive enrollment has brought a substantial number of workers under the scheme's protective umbrella, specifically encompassing 29,548 newly employed individuals and 69,223 re-employed workers. However, despite these encouraging numbers, nearly 2,600 eligible establishments remain unregistered, prompting the EPFO to escalate its follow-up campaigns and direct communications to ensure maximum participation.
Official Statement on Implementation Efforts
Ashwini Kumar Gupta, the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I for Lucknow, emphasized that sustained and systematic efforts are being rigorously deployed to guarantee the effective and widespread implementation of the Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana. "All eligible employers should come forward to register without delay so that both they and their employees can fully avail the substantial benefits in the first Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) phase, which is scheduled for March 2026," Gupta stated authoritatively. He further highlighted that timely registration is crucial for accessing financial incentives and ensuring social security for the workforce.
Identified Compliance Gaps and Challenges
In addition to pushing for new registrations, the Lucknow regional office has also identified and flagged several critical compliance gaps among already registered entities. These issues could potentially hinder the seamless disbursement of benefits and require immediate attention:
- Approximately 800 registered members' bank accounts are currently not enabled for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), which is essential for receiving scheme incentives directly.
- Nearly 400 Universal Account Numbers (UANs) have not been authenticated using the mandatory Face Authentication Technology (FAT), posing a risk to account security and verification processes.
- Some establishments have been irregular in filing their Electronic Challan-cum-Returns (ECRs) since August 2024, a lapse that could adversely affect their eligibility for the scheme's benefits and lead to administrative penalties.
The EPFO Lucknow office is now focusing on addressing these compliance issues through targeted awareness campaigns and technical support, ensuring that all registered participants can smoothly transition into the benefit phase without any operational hiccups.
