Good news for govt staff! DA hike announced in these two states | Dearness Allowance

Dearness Allowance Hike: State governments of two poll-bound states — Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan — have announced a hike in dearness allowance (DA) for their state government employees on Thursday. While government staff in poll-bound Chhattisgarh will get a 5 per cent hike in dearness allowance, the DA for Rajasthan government employees and pensioners under 5th Pay Commission has been increased from 396 per cent to 412 per cent. Here are the details of the DA hikes announced in both the states.

Chhattisgarh Dearness Allowance Hike 

The Chhattisgarh government has increased the dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees by 5 per cent taking it to 38 per cent, just months before the year-end Assembly elections in the Congress-ruled state.

As per government sources, the decision, which will benefit around 3.80 lakh employees, was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

"We decided in the cabinet meeting to increase the DA for state government employees by 5%." "The increase will add Rs 1000 crore to the exchequer every year," CM Baghel tweeted.

According to the source, the DA for government employees was hiked by 5% in October of last year, which had raised the rate to 33 per cent.

"Now, they will get 38 pr cent DA. The state government has also reduced eligibility criteria for full pension from 33 years of service to 30 years of service, while the qualifying service period for voluntary retirement has been reduced from 20 years to 17 years," the official said.

Rajasthan govt announces DA hike for employees, pensioners under 5th pay commission

Employees and pensioners in Rajasthan working under the Fifth Pay Commission will receive higher dearness allowance beginning in January 2023.

According to an official announcement, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved the proposal in this regard.

The suggestion is for an increase in the rate of dearness allowance for state employees and retirees working under the Fifth Pay Commission and the Rajasthan Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 1998.

The percentage of dearness allowance for such state employees and pensioners would be enhanced from 396 per cent to 412 per cent beginning January 1, 2023. From January 2023 through March 2023, the funds will be deposited into the employees' general provident fund accounts. While pesnioners will receive the additional dearness allowance in cash.

CM Ashok Gehlot has approved the Finance Department's request in this regard. According to the statement, personnel and pensioners working under the Fifth Pay Commission will benefit from the Chief Minister's decision.

The rates of dearness allowance for state personnel working under the 5th and 6th pay commissions were updated in October 2022. The dearness allowance was increased from 381 to 396 percent under the 5th Pay Commission. While the 6th Pay Commission boosted the dearness allowance from 203 to 212 percent.

The Gehlot administration had already enhanced the dearness allowance for employees under the 7th Pay Commission.