In addition, a 10 per cent interim relief will also be implemented from January 2019.
The employees of West Bengal State Government have reasons to rejoice. The dearness allowance or DA has been increased by 18 per cent by the State Government, taking the payment to 125 per cent.
An additional 10 per cent interim relief will also be implemented from January 2019.
The severely discontented government employees have been demanding an increase in DA for a long time. In fact, there was a case filed by employees at the Calcutta High Court for which a judgement had been pending.
The Government will have to spend Rs 5,000 crore to pay the increased DA.
“We are today announcing an additional 18 per cent DA to the state government employees, including teachers and non-teaching staff of educational institutions. It will come into effect from January 1, 2019,” said Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamta Banerjee.
According to the State Finance Minister, Amit Mitra, with the latest hike in DA, the State Government has spent a total of about ?27,000 crore in the last seven years.