DA arrears: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced to release the pending installment of six per cent Dearness Allowance (DA) to government employees from July 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. The arrears pertained to the period of former SAD-BJP government.
Giving details to the media, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said the decision will entail an additional financial liability of Rs 356 Crore to the state exchequer.
Government’s top priority
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the employees were a critical segment of the state administration and safeguarding their interests was the government’s top priority.
Mann tweeted in Punjabi to make the announcement, “A big gift for government employees…Today we have released an installment of Dearness Allowance arrears of government employees…The due amount of Dearness Allowance arrears, to the tune of an increase of 6% from July 1 2015 to December 31, 2015 has been approved. It will cost the state exchequer Rs 356 crores…We do what we say…”
Long pending demand
The dues were a long pending demand of the government employees. Finance minister Harpal Cheema said that the chief minister was clearing the dues of previous governments too. In a statement, a spokesperson of the CMO said that Mann reiterated that it was his government’s firm commitment to ensure the welfare of employees. The employees were a critical segment of the state administration and safeguarding their interests was the government’s top priority.
Recently, the HC had directed the state government to clear these arrears. The file was put up to the CM by the finance department and the CM cleared the file on Wednesday.
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