News Brief
West Bengal Govt Faces Backlash Over 4 Per Cent DA Hike As Employees Unhappy With Wide Gap Compared To Central Peers
Nayan Dwivedi
Dec 26, 2023, 04:50 PM | Updated 04:50 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
In a significant development, Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, recently announced a 4 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees, starting from 1 January, as reported by Indian Express.
However, this decision has faced criticism from opposition parties and state employees who argue that the central government employees receive a higher DA of 46 per cent, creating a substantial gap.
Addressing a festive event in Kolkata, Mamata defended her decision, stating that it would benefit around 14 lakh state government employees and pensioners, costing the government an additional Rs 2,400 crore.
She clarified that, unlike the central government, the state considers DA as optional.
The protesting state employees, affiliated with the Sangrami Joutha Mancha (SJM), have been advocating for parity in DA hike with central employees for a year.
Despite the recent 4 per cent increase, they find it insufficient and plan to continue their protest until the government addresses their complete DA dues.
The SJM has garnered support from opposition leaders, and a mega rally on the issue is scheduled for 19 January, with a subsequent three-day "pen down" stir.
The state government's move is seen as a political strategy ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, with critics describing the increase as a mere token gesture.
Meanwhile, the opposition is using the opportunity to target the TMC government on various fronts, including allegations of corruption.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Nayan Dwivedi is Staff Writer at Swarajya.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.