Retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for family members of an employee who dies due to Covid-19 (Coronavirus). " It has been decided that ex gratia Death Relief Fund of Rs 10 lakh shall be paid to the family members (nominee or legal heirs)  of the deceased employee from the welfare fund in the event of death of an employee of the Central Board due to Covid-19," an EPFO release said.

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Currently the ex gratia amount from the Death Relief Fund is Rs 3.90 lakh.

The decision comes in the wake of rising number of coronavirus case. The government has declared Covid-19 as National Disaster under the Disasters Management Act, 2005.

The government had earlier declared that provident fund and pension services rendered by EPFO will continue to operate even during the lockdown period. The services fall under the ambit of essential services.

The release further said down procedures that would be followed while approving the ex gratia on the death of EPFO employee. A welfare officer will be appointed who will submit his report to the officer-in-charge. Then a screening committee will examine the report of the welfare officer and give its recommendations to the officer-in-charge.

The officer in charge will then forwards the report along with his recommendations to the President, Regional Staff Welfare Committee (RSWC). After the due consideration of the RSWC President, it will be decided if the money is to be sanctioned or not.

EPFO has put a 15-day deadline for the completion of the entire process.

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The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has over 6 crore subscribers, 12 lakh employers and 65 lakh, pensioners. EPFO has a robust mechanism for addressing account holders' grievances. The organisation works under the aegis of Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India with 21 Zonal offices, 138 regional offices and 117 district offices.