House panel pulls up EPFO for ‘very low’ OBC representation

The Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes has pulled up the Union government and officials of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation for low representation of OBCs within the organisation. In a report tabled in Parliament on Monday, the panel noted that there was no OBC representation among the 43 persons in top management, including Board members, Chairman and Vice-Chairman, and that the representation of OBCs in Group A, B, and C posts was below 20% — well below the mandated 27%. However, the Committee is of opinion that if persons from the OBC category come forward fulfilling the criteria laid down for the appointment of Member of Central Board of Trustee which administers EPFO, they should be given preference in appointment.” The panel also pulled up the EPFO and the Ministry of Labour and Employment for presenting vague data on OBC representation within the organisation. Submitting responses to questions raised by the panel on the “very low” representation of OBCs in the EPFO, the Ministry said that direct recruitment vacancies where OBC reservation apply was only for eight cadres and that the rest of the posts were filled either on deputation or promotion, where reservation rules don’t apply. In its recommendations to the government, the panel said, “It is also advised to expeditiously complete all the recruitment procedure pending for appointment to various posts and cadre as per reservation policy for OBCs in employment.” The panel also noted that the Ministry had submitted that there were no grievances among OBC officials working in the EPFO, which, it said, was contrary to the statements of two employees who had approached members of the panel with their troubles.