After the central government, now the Punjab government has announced dearness allowance. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan on Wednesday announced a three percent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) of state government employees and pensioners. Along with this, the dearness allowance has increased to 53 percent. Mann told reporters that the state government is giving Diwali gifts to eight lakh employees and pensioners. Their dearness allowance has been increased by three percent. He said that after this hike, the rate of dearness allowance will increase to 53 percent. When the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in 2022, the dearness allowance rate was 28 percent.
Also provided 71,777 new government jobs
The Chief Minister said that his government has increased DA by 11 percent in two months. Earlier, the government had increased it by eight percent. Mann said that the state government has also given 71,777 new government jobs based on merit. He said that the doors of the government are always open to discuss the demands of the employees and they can come and present their ideas anytime. Asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Sangrur, Ma said that everyone has the right to hold a rally.
How much financial burden will the government bear?
On September 23, the finance department issued orders for an earlier 8 percent hike, with the revised rates implemented from September 1. Employees and pensioners were benefited with September salary and October pension. Due DA and DR of Punjab Government employees and pensioners for the period from January 1, 2021 to September 30, 2026 totaling Rs. 22,818 crores. Applying a rate equal to the central government’s DA rates will save the state exchequer an annual cost of Rs. 4,712 crore will incur an additional burden. The financial impact of paying this arrears will be high, as the state government will also have to pay 6 percent annual interest on this arrears. Including these two outstanding liabilities, the total outstanding burden on the State is Rs. 32,418 crore is estimated.
These figures have come out from this report
These figures have been revealed in a report presented by Chief Secretary KAP Sinha before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The report details the government’s financial obligations to employees and pensioners. During the year 2025-26, Punjab will spend approximately Rs. 58,064 crore was spent. The additional burden of DA (Dearness Allowance), along with the arrears and interest payable thereon, will further increase the government’s mandatory expenditure.
Meanwhile, a case of non-payment of DA is pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On Tuesday, the High Court issued a contempt notice to the Chief Secretary and sought his reply by November 17. Contempt proceedings were initiated as the government failed to clarify its stand on payment of dues.
In September, the government decided to increase DA by 8 percent, increasing its rate from 42 percent to 50 percent. This gave some relief to the employees and pensioners. However, the amendment only changed the DA rate, while the arrears collected from January 2021 were not settled.
Harsh attacks on BJP
Regarding the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on the Moga MLA’s house, he said the raid by the central agencies indicated that the elections were going to be held on time. Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said central agencies are used when elections are near. He said let the raid take place, they will find nothing. On the question of burning of paddy husk increasing pollution, Mann said that Punjab has no role in Delhi’s pollution and Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also knows this. He alleged that attempts were being made to defame Punjab. Sirsa on Tuesday criticized the AAP government over the stubble burning issue.
