Bhubaneswar, Aug 28: In a major administrative reform, the Odisha government has announced that final payment proposals for General Provident Fund (GPF) of retired employees from aided educational institutions will be accepted only through online mode starting September 1, 2025.

As per the directive issued by the Directorate of Accounts and the School & Mass Education Department, all Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) and heads of offices under the School & Mass Education and Higher Education departments must submit final GPF proposals exclusively via the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) portal. No physical proposals will be entertained after the cut-off date.

This move aims to streamline the processing of retirement benefits, reduce delays, and ensure transparency in fund disbursement. The decision follows official communications — Memo No. 17766 dated July 1, 2025, and Letter No. 8153 dated July 11, 2025 — from the concerned departments.

The transition to digital submission is expected to benefit thousands of retiring employees by speeding up the approval and payment process. Officials have emphasized that the new system will eliminate paperwork bottlenecks and improve coordination between departments.

To assist users during the transition, the government has provided a dedicated helpline number (8249944846), operational on working days from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.

This initiative aligns with the state’s broader push toward e-governance and digital service delivery, ensuring that financial entitlements are processed efficiently and securely.