Punjab government announces an 8% DA hike for employees and pensioners, taking total DA to 50%. Revised DA will be included in this month’s salary.
The Punjab government has announced an 8% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and pensioners following a meeting between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and representatives of employee organisations in Chandigarh.
The Punjab DA Hike was announced by Cabinet Minister Aman Arora during a joint press conference with representatives of employee unions after the meeting. Arora said the discussions with the Chief Minister helped resolve differences between the government and employee groups.
DA to Rise to 50% in Two Installments
Under the Punjab DA Hike, the additional 8% allowance will be released in two installments of 4% each. According to Aman Arora, this will take the total DA of Punjab government employees to 50%.
The revised DA will be reflected in the salaries paid this month, providing financial relief to employees and pensioners. The government estimates that the decision will add around ₹248 crore to the state exchequer.
Aman Arora Says Government Will Continue Dialogue
Speaking after the meeting, Aman Arora said employees have the right to raise their concerns and that it is the government’s responsibility to listen to them.
He said the government intends to address pending issues through discussions rather than confrontation. The minister also said the latest Punjab DA Hike reflects the government’s efforts to resolve long-standing concerns raised by employee and pensioner organisations.
Arora added that discussions with employee representatives would continue and another meeting with the Chief Minister is expected within around two weeks.
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Earlier Talks Had Hit a Roadblock
The announcement comes after an earlier meeting in Jalandhar where discussions between the Chief Minister and employee unions did not take place.
At that meeting, Bhagwant Mann had reportedly asked employee representatives to withdraw their strike before holding talks. The unions did not agree to the condition, following which the proposed discussions did not take place.
The latest Chandigarh meeting subsequently brought the two sides back to the negotiating table.
Harpal Cheema and Other Ministers Attend Meeting
The Chandigarh meeting was attended by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, AAP Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, and Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur.
Representatives from several employee and pensioner organisations also participated. These included the Sanjha Front of Pensioners, Sanyukt Mulazim Manch, Punjab Secretariat Association and Punjab Civil Secretariat Officers Association (Retd.).
During the meeting, employee representatives presented their pending demands before the Chief Minister. Arora said Bhagwant Mann listened to the issues in detail.
Government Promises Further Discussions
Aman Arora said many of the pending matters raised by employees originated during previous governments. He said the government would continue discussions with employee organisations to find solutions to unresolved issues.
The minister also said efforts would be made to settle disputes that have reached the courts through dialogue and negotiations wherever possible.
With the Punjab DA Hike, the total Dearness Allowance for state government employees will reach 50%, while the revised allowance is scheduled to be included in the current month’s salary payments.
The government has also indicated that talks with employee and pensioner organisations will continue, with another meeting with the Chief Minister expected in the coming weeks.
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