THURSDAY, MAY 09, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: All India Trinamool Congress Party (AITC) leader in the Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien, on Thursday urged the Government of India to introduce an apostrophe and dash in names in the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) software for the smooth dispersal of Provident Fund as failure to do so was hurting the people of Goa.
Making a special mention in the Upper House, O’Brien said that many people in Goa and the rest of the country, with names of Portuguese descent, have apostrophes in their surnames. The government must ensure a seamless digital experience for all.
O’Brien said that due to computer programming, people are facing hardships in withdrawing their Provident Fund and NEFT transfers are refused by the EPFO. He said that the software is actually unable to process any name which has apostrophe or dash in it. The EPFO officials are asking individuals to change their surnames in government issued KYC documents such as Aadhar Card, Passport and PF processing.
The TMC leader told the House that the names were accepted earlier in these documents but now they are not. Asking to change such surnames is unfair and illegal and why should Indian citizens who have apostrophe or dash in their surnames be pressurised to change them. This has hurt people specially citizens of Goa who have apostrophe in their surnames such as D’Cruz, D’Rosario, D’Silva, D’Gama, D’Sa and D’Mello, etc. These people are mostly residing in areas of Salcete taluka in South Goa district and also across Goa, he said.
Besides these names of Portuguese descent, there is also microscopic community like Anglo Indians, who also have apostrophe in their surnames, which are rejected by the EPFO due to computer programming, he said.
Stating that the Union Home Minister had assured members about seamless digital experience, O’Brien said, “I urge the government to modify the EPFO software to accommodate all names having apostrophe or dash and that no one should be deprived of their Provident Fund.”
