Chandigarh, Nov 4 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced a 3 per cent hike in dearness allowance for state government employees and pensioners.
Addressing the media here, Mann said this decision will benefit around 8 lakh government employees and pensioners, adding that the enhanced DA would be reflected in December salaries and pensions.
With the 3 per cent hike, the total DA rate reached 53 per cent.
"A Diwali gift is being given from the state government to eight lakh employees and pensioners. A 3 per cent instalment of DA will be released," Mann told reporters here.
Mann said when the AAP government came to power, the DA rate was 28 per cent.
"Now, the DA rate has increased to 53 per cent," he added.
The chief minister said his government raised the DA rate by 11 per cent within two months. Earlier, it had increased by 8 per cent.
Mann said unlike previous governments, which frequently cited empty treasuries, his government had prioritised employee welfare and ensured that financial constraints never became an excuse for withholding their rightful benefits.
Mann acknowledged the immense contribution of government employees and pensioners to the state's administration and public service.
"Employees and pensioners are members of the Punjab government family and are the backbone of the administrative machinery. They are performing their duties with dedication and commitment to address the grievances of the common people, maintain law and order and implement various welfare schemes," he said.
"The success we have achieved in implementing numerous public welfare schemes has been possible largely due to the invaluable contribution of our employees," he added.
Mann thanked all employees for their dedicated service and highlighted the government’s recruitment initiatives.
"Our government has undertaken the largest-ever recruitment drive in government departments over the past four years and nine months. We have provided 71,777 government jobs to our youth purely on merit, without any bribery or recommendation," he said.
"I have always preferred dialogue to address the pending demands of employees, and our doors remain open for them at all times," he added.
Mann said the announcement would bring particular joy to nearly 8 lakh employees and pensioners of Punjab.
"It is a particularly joyful day for nearly 8 lakh employees and pensioners of Punjab. As a Diwali gift, they are getting an additional 3 per cent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners," he said.
"This increase will come into effect from November 1, and the salaries and pensions to be paid in December will include the enhanced DA/DR of 3 per cent. With this increase, the DA in Punjab has risen from 50 per cent to 53 per cent. When we assumed office in 2022, government employees were receiving DA at the rate of just 28 per cent," he added.
The chief minister said his government has consistently increased DA since assuming office in 2022.
"From 2022 till date, the state government has increased DA by 25 percentage points. Just two months ago, in September, an 8 per cent increase in DA was announced. This is the first time that any government has increased DA by 11 percentage points within a span of just two months," he said.
"The cumulative increase of 11 percentage points will benefit employees and pensioners by Rs 1,813 crore during the current financial year," he added.
Mann said that when the state government assumed office in 2022, a substantial financial liability relating to the Sixth Punjab Pay Commission was already pending.
"The benefits of the Sixth Punjab Pay Commission were supposed to be implemented with effect from January 1, 2016, but its recommendations were implemented only in July 2021.
"Consequently, arrears amounting to approximately Rs 14,191 crore had accumulated for the period from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2021.
"So far, arrears amounting to Rs 4,891 crore have been released, and the remaining Rs 9,300 crore will also be paid," Mann added.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)