INDIA: As per the current recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission, the Bengal government allocated a 6% increase in dearness allowance (DA) to employees, pensioners, and family pensioners.
The new norm would be applicable as of March 1, 2023. As per reports, the latest increase comprises a 3% hike which was announced in December 2020, which was implemented from January 1, 2021, and an additional 3% raise in the latest. The declaration is made by Chandrima Bhattacharya, the minister of state for finance (independent charge) in West Bengal.
As per the official notification, “The teaching and non-teaching personnel of government-aided institutions as well as the staff of local bodies would be eligible for the DA as well.”
“The pension disbursing authority will be in charge of figuring out how much debt relief will be applied to each individual case’s amended pension and family pension,” as per notification from the Bengal government.
The DA allowances will be based on the revised basic pay and non-practising allowance. There would be a net increase of about 6% that would apply to teaching and non-teaching staff of government-aided institutions, as well as staff of local bodies.
However, despite the current hike, state government employees earlier this week held a 48-hour “pen down” agitation, ignoring warnings of action. According to the claims made by the workers, amid the increase in allowances, there will be 32% short of the DA offered by the central government to its staff.
According to Pratim Chaudhary, a teacher at Raiganj’s Dhalgaon Junior High School, “Considering the increase in the cost of many commodities, I think a 3% provision for inflation is too little.”
“The Supreme Court is now hearing a case related to this. I’ve taken this action in opposition to the state’s deprivation of government workers,” the teacher added.
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