Bengal govt issues notification announcing enhanced DA payment from Oct 1
Kolkata, Aug 5
The West Bengal Finance department has issued a notification announcing the enhanced dearness allowance payment to the tune of 38 per cent to the state government employees with effect from October 1 this year.
The enhanced dearness allowance payment for the state government employees to the tune of 38 per cent was announced by the West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, a journalist-turned-politician, on Tuesday while presenting his budget proposals for the financial year 2026-27 on the floor of the West Bengal Assembly on June 22.
On Tuesday night, the state Finance department (audit branch) has announced the date from which the enhanced dearness allowances will be paid to the permanent state government employees.
As per the notification, besides the permanent state government employees, the enhanced dearness allowances will be paid to the teaching and non-teaching staff in state-run and state-aid schools as well as the employees in statutory bodies, government undertakings, panchayats (including panchayat workers), municipal corporations, municipalities and other local bodies.
At the same time, an enhanced dearness relief (will be paid to the pensioners and family pensioners) of the state. They will get dearness relief at the rate of 38 per cent of the revised basic pension or revised family pension from October 1.
The guidelines said that the pension paying authority will correctly calculate the amount of dearness relief payable on the revised pension or family pension in each individual case.
The Principal Accountant General of West Bengal Anindya Dasgupta will issue necessary instructions in this regard to various government banks in the case of Kolkata and to the concerned accountant general in the case of other districts.
For employees who are still in the pre-revised or unrevised pay structure as recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission, the rate of dearness allowance has also been increased in one step from 171 per cent to 223 per cent, which will be effective from October 1.
Similarly, as per the notification, the dearness relief has been increased from 171 per cent to 223 per cent for those who are still getting pre-revised pension or family pension as per ROPA (Revision of Pay and Allowance), 2009.
In addition, the daily wage of all government daily wage workers or daily rated workers whose wages are not regulated by any statutory provision like the Minimum Wages Act has been increased by an ad-hoc increase of Rs 110.
This new wage increase will also be effective from October 1.
The state Finance department's guidelines clearly state that in the case of government undertakings or statutory bodies, all the expenses of this additional dearness allowance and dearness relief will have to be borne from their own funds or from the financial assistance received in the budget.
It has been told that the state government will not provide any additional financial assistance separately for this.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good step by the Bengal government, but why only from October? The budget was presented in June, and employees have been waiting since then. Also, daily wage workers getting only Rs 110 extra seems inadequate given the current price rise.
As a teacher in a state-aided school, this is very welcoming. The inclusion of teaching and non-teaching staff shows the government cares about the education sector. But I wish the arrears from June were also cleared. Still, grateful for this support! 😊
The finance minister deserves credit for maintaining fiscal discipline while addressing employee welfare. However, I'm concerned about the burden on government undertakings - they'll have to bear the additional costs from their own funds, which might strain their budgets. Need to watch how this plays out.
It's good to see the Bengal government taking care of its employees and pensioners. The 38% DA and the hike for pre-revised pay scale workers show inclusive thinking. Hope this sets a positive example for other states too.
As someone whose father is a retired state government employee, this dearness relief increase brings a smile to our family. The detailed notification shows the government is being transparent about the process. Well done! 👏
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