DA Arrears: The West Bengal government has made a significant decision to offer substantial relief to millions of pensioners and family pensioners across the state. They have announced that those receiving pensions through banks in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) area will be granted 50% of their pending Dearness Relief (DR) arrears as interim assistance. This move comes in response to the fact that many banks have not fully certified their old pension records, which has delayed arrears payments for years. The government aims to ensure that pensioners receive this relief promptly, without having to wait for the completion of record verification. Let’s delve into the specifics.
As per a notification from the Finance Department of the government, this payment will be calculated based on the estimated DR arrears for the period spanning from April 1, 2008, to December 31, 2019. The calculations will utilize available records from the Accountant General (AG) of West Bengal, the DR rates established under ROPA 2009, and a formula associated with the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI). At this time, only 50% of the estimated arrears will be disbursed, with the remaining amount to be paid once all records have been verified.
To streamline this entire process, the state government has also launched a new Bank Pension Management Portal as part of the West Bengal Integrated Financial Management System (WBiFMS). All relevant banks have been instructed to verify pensioner data on this portal, update outdated pension payment records, and directly deposit the eligible amounts into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts. Additionally, the government has indicated that the process and timeline for the payment of the remaining DR arrears will be communicated separately.
Officials from the government emphasize that pensioners should not be left waiting for extended periods due to technical and record-related issues. Hence, this interim solution has been put in place to provide immediate financial support to senior citizens. As banks finalize the verification of records, the remaining balance will be disbursed.
It’s worth noting that the West Bengal government recently announced a 20% increase in dearness allowance (DA) for state employees and pensioners, effective October 1st. This has significantly reduced the DA gap between state employees and central government employees. However, state employees are still receiving salaries under the 5th and 6th Pay Commissions, while the central government is undergoing the 8th Pay Commission process. Consequently, this payment of DR arrears is considered a major financial relief for state pensioners.