IN January 2005, Ruchi Das resigned from her stint as a newspaper journalist to join an online media company.

Her provident fund (PF) balance was worth Rs 38,500, and she wanted to transfer this amount to her new employer's PF account, since a withdrawal before five years would be taxed.

In January 2007, Ruchi applied to her current employer for the transfer of PF balance. In December 2007, Ruchi, still has no clue about the status of her transfer.

When she made an inquiry, she discovered that her former employer had issued a cheque for Rs 38,500 in May 2007 in favour of the Recognised Provident Fund Commissioner (Delhi) with whom her current employer maintains the PF account. But the money was not credited into her account.

According to social activist Shailesh Gandhi, who perseveres in his fight with government agencies for the right of information, cases of pending provident fund are not uncommon.

If you are in the same boat as Ruchi, the Right to Information Act is a good bet, to help you find out the status of your dues (PF, tax refunds or old age pensions) from the government.

The waiting period for tax refunds is usually one year from the time of filing your returns.

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e-mail: Gayathri Madhavan

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