Question : AMENDMENT OF GPF RULES

(a) whether the General Provident Fund Rules permit Central Government employees to withdraw 90 per cent of the total amount deposited for the purpose of house construction;

(b) if so, whether such similar provision does not exist for medical treatment of employees suffering from serious diseases like cancer etc.;

(c) if so, whether the Government have any proposal to amend to G.P.F. rules to enable cancer patients and other serious patients to withdraw 90 per cent of GPF fund for their medical treatment; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE ( SHRI ANANDRAO V. ADSUL )

(a) : Yes, Sir.

(b), (c) & (d) : General Provident Fund(GPF) Rules provide for withdrawal up to 75 per cent of accumulation at the credit of subscriber, if the employee has rendered 15 years` service or within 10 years before the date of superannuation, whichever is earlier. However, GPF Rules also provide for relaxation of these conditions in deserving cases. Besides, various benefits are also available for medical treatment of Government servants and/or dependents under Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)/various Schemes run by Departments like Railways etc. and/or Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules. CS(MA)/CGHS Rules also provide for grant of advance upto 90% of the package deal rates, wherever exist or according to the estimate submitted by Government/Govt. recognised private hospital, whichever is less, for major illnesses like By-Pass Surgery, Kidney Transplant, Major Cancer treatment, etc. In view of this, there is no proposal to amend GPF rules to enable cancer patients and other serious patients to withdraw 90% of GPF for their medical treatment.