The government employees of Gujarat and Telangana received good news on Independence Day. The state government’s decision to raise the dearness allowance comes even though the Centre is yet to make public the much-expected hike in DA that was promised last month.
Every year, the dearness allowance is increased twice, in January and July. The dearness allowance is reportedly projected to increase this time by 4% to counteract the effects of inflation.
Gujarat Govt Announces 3% DA Hike:
Bhupendra Patel, the chief minister of Gujarat, announced on Monday that the dearness allowance for public employees will increase by 3% and that the National Food Security Act's welfare systems would be expanded.
He announced a retroactive January 1, 2022, three percent rise in the DA for Gujarat government employees under the 7th Pay Commission.
The decision will benefit nearly 9 lakh state government employees, panchayat employees, and retirees, increasing the state government's financial burden by almost Rs 1,400 crore yearly.
The one-kg gramme (pulses) per card per family scheme for holders of NFSA cards will also be increased, and the income qualifying requirements for beneficiaries under the act.
He stated that one kg of pulses per card, per month, at a discounted rate, will be provided to 71 lakh NFSA card users from all 250 talukas of the state. Only those from 50 developing talukas are now receiving benefits from the scheme.
According to him, the previous monthly income limit for inclusion under the NFSA has been raised to Rs 15,000 from Rs 10,000.
Telangana Govt Announces DA Hike for Govt Employees and Pensioners:
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao announced a 3% increase in dearness allowance and stated that as of July 1, 2022, the DA for state government employees, retirees, and family pensioners would increase to 34% from 31% to be on a level with the central government.
According to him, this would benefit 16 lakh workers and cost an additional Rs 1,947.60 crore.
Stalin announced raising the monthly pension for freedom fighters from Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000 and the family and special pension for the heirs of famous freedom movement leaders from Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000.
