DA Hike: Good news for Bengal Government employees. The government in West Bengal under the leadership of Suvendu Adhikari has provided a significant boost to state employees by raising their Dearness Allowance (DA) by 20 percent in one go. Following this adjustment, state employees now enjoy a 38 percent DA. The announcement was made on Monday during the presentation of the first budget by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta.
The increased DA will come into effect starting from October 1st, benefiting state employees by increasing their DA to 38 percent of their salary. It is important to mention that the state currently follows the 6th Pay Commission, although during the elections, BJP had promised state employees the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, which had been approved by the Suvendu cabinet.
Here is how the DA increase will impact state employees based on their basic pay:
– Employees with a basic pay of Rs 20,000 will see their DA rise from Rs 3,600 to Rs 7,600, resulting in a monthly benefit of Rs 4,000.
– Those with a basic pay of Rs 30,000 will witness an increase from Rs 11,400 in DA to Rs 17,400, which means an additional Rs 6,000.
– Employees in Bengal earning a basic pay of Rs 75,000 will now receive a DA of Rs 28,500 after the increase, which is Rs 15,000 more than the current DA.
Additionally, the Bengal Finance Minister disclosed plans to fill 100,000 vacant government positions gradually in the upcoming months, with 33 percent of these roles reserved for women.
In the budget speech, the Finance Minister also proposed the revival of the Calcutta Stock Exchange.
Comparatively, the Central Government boosts the DA for central government employees twice a year. This time, a 2 percent increase in DA has been granted, bringing the total DA for central government employees to 60 percent. The announcement for the July DA increase from the Central Government is awaited.
Why are state employees still lagging behind central employees?
- After the increase of 20 percent, the DA of West Bengal employees will reach 38 percent.
- But even after this, they will remain far behind the central employees.
- Currently, central government employees are getting 60 percent DA.
- The meaning is clear that even after the increase, there will be a difference of 22 percent in the DA of West Bengal employees and central employees.
Why is there so much difference between the two?
- The biggest reason for this difference is the difference in the salary systems of both.
- Central employees get DA on the basis of 7th Pay Commission.
- Whereas the salary and allowances of the employees of West Bengal are decided under the ROPA 2019 rules of the state government.
- Also, the Central Government takes a decision on increasing DA every year in January and July.
- Whereas the increase in DA by the state government is less and also takes more time.
- This is the reason why a big difference is visible between the DA of central and state employees.