Chandigarh, Sept. 18 -- The Bhagwant Mann government has announced an 8 per cent hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for around eight lakh government employees and pensioners, providing festive relief to them and their families.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced the decision after meeting representatives of employee and pensioner organisations and hearing their concerns. The increased DA will be reflected in salaries from October 1, with two instalments of four per cent each being released.
Mann also announced compulsory monthly meetings with employee representatives to address genuine grievances and work towards resolving long-pending issues, including restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, probation-period salaries, allowances, Assured Career Progression and pension-related demands.
He said the government would examine these demands sympathetically while considering applicable rules, financial implications and legal provisions.
The chief minister said around 70,000 government jobs had been provided through a transparent and merit-based recruitment process without recommendations or financial considerations.
He also highlighted measures for women employees, saying efforts had been made to ensure their postings within 40 kilometres of their homes.
Mann said employees were the backbone of administration and their welfare remained a priority.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.