Major Festive Gift For Punjab Govt's 8 Lakh Employees & Pensioners; Bhagwant Mann Govt Increases DA To 50% (TIN)
Chandigarh: The Punjab Government on Friday announced an 8% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees and pensioners, providing financial relief to around eight lakh beneficiaries ahead of the festive season. The increase will be released in two installments of 4% each, taking the DA to 50%. The enhanced DA will be reflected in the September salary/pension payable on October 1.
The decision was announced after a meeting between Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and representatives of employee and pensioner organisations in Chandigarh. The meeting focused not only on the DA issue but also on several long-pending demands of government employees, including the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), probation-period salary, allowances and other service-related matters.
Under the decision, two installments of 4% each will be released to employees and pensioners. The first installment will be reflected in the September salary, payable on October 1, while the second installment will follow as part of the announced arrangement. The move ends a prolonged standoff between the state government and employee organisations over DA and other service-related demands.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the welfare and dignity of government employees remain a priority for his government. He described employees as an important part of the administrative machinery and said their work is essential for delivering government services and welfare schemes to people across Punjab.
Mann said the government wanted to address genuine concerns through dialogue rather than confrontation. He also said employee welfare has to be balanced with the overall financial position of the state.
In a significant announcement, Mann said meetings with employee representatives would be held every month. The objective, according to the government, is to provide employees with a regular platform to raise their concerns and address issues before they escalate.
The Chief Minister said the government would examine genuine demands sympathetically while keeping in view applicable rules, financial implications and the legal position.
The government will also examine several long-pending demands raised by employees and pensioners. These include restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the demand for a 2.59 pension multiplication factor, restoration of allowances, implementation of Assured Career Progression (ACP) and issues related to probation-period pay.
The government has also indicated that issues concerning ASHA and Mid-Day Meal workers will be discussed. Further discussions on the pending demands are expected in the coming weeks.
Mann also highlighted the state government's recruitment record, saying around 70,000 government jobs had been provided through a process based on merit and transparency. He said the government's objective was to ensure that young people could enter government service on the basis of their qualifications and hard work.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the government's stated policy concerning women employees, saying efforts would be made to provide postings within a 40-kilometre radius of their homes. He said the measure was aimed at helping women balance their professional responsibilities with family commitments.
Mann said the government wanted to maintain a continuous channel of communication with its employees and resolve genuine issues through regular discussions. He called upon government employees to continue working with dedication and a spirit of public service.
The latest DA decision comes after weeks of agitation by state employees over pending DA installments and other service-related demands. The government and employee representatives have now agreed to continue discussions on the remaining issues.
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