Report No. 137

3.4.1. Need for creating a monitoring agency: An Ombudsman.-

The Commission is firmly of the opinion that the problem has arisen essentially because of the absence of a monitoring agency to oversee the working of the existing disbursement machinery.

3.4.2. It needs to be emphasised that as many as 139 cases were resolved within approximately 3 months of the taking up of the matter by the Commission. Two conclusions follow:-

(1) There was culpable apathy to do the needful on the part of the disbursing authority. Else how were cases pending for 5, 10, 15 or 20 years resolved within nearly 3 months?

(2) Such a situation would not have arisen if there had existed a monitoring agency to oversee, goad, if necessary guide, and to issue appropriate directions whenever called for.

3.4.3. The urgent need for creating such an agency, Ombudsman, is therefore real, and self-evident.

3.4.4. Profile of the proposed office of Provident Fund Ombudsman:-