Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh announced an additional instalment of dearness allowance for more than 2 lakh employees of State Government, on fourth day of state-wide Vikas Yatra-2013.
Dr Singh has pronounced the hike of 8 per cent on dearness allowance for State Government employees. Now from January 1, 2013 onwards, the rate of dearness allowance will be payable to Government employees at the rate of 80 per cent, informed in an official statement here on Thursday.
In compliance with the announcement of Chief Minister, the Finance Department of State Government has increased the dearness allowance of Government employees from 72 per cent to 80 per cent. According to Finance Department, the hike in dearness allowance of employees will result in additional financial burden of nearly Rs200 crore on State Government.
On recommendation of Chief Minister of state and In-charge of Finance Department Dr Raman Singh, Finance Department issued orders from Mantralaya (Mahanadi Bhavan) pertaining to the implementation of revised pay-scale 2009 for State Government employees from January 1, 2013. In the orders issued to Chairman of Revenue Board, Department Heads, Regional Commissioners and District Collectors, it has been mentioned that the government employees were being given dearness allowance at the rate of 72 per cent since November 1, 2012. But from January 1, 2013 onwards, the rate of dearness allowance will be payable to Government employees at the rate of 80 per cent. The hiked dearness allowance will be calculated on the basis of basic pay (pay band+grade pay), excluding the special and personal salary, which will be paid in cash.
Any part of the dearness allowance will not be considered as salary under Basic Rule 9 (21). This order will also be applicable for the employees of University Grant Commission (UGC), All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) along with other charged and contingent employees. Payment of dearness allowance will be done as per the provisions of approved budget for the departments concerned, in the current financial year.
Employees' body welcomes CM move
Elated with the sop came as respite to State Government employees, the Chhattisgarh Rajya Karmchari Sangh (Chhattisgarh State Employees’ Association) has heartily welcomed the decision of Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh to provide 8 per cent hike in dearness allowance of State Government employees.
Association's State President Mahendra Jain and General Secretary Virendra Namdeo have expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh for his decision in interest of the State Government employees.
General Secretary Namdeo said that on April 18, a delegation of State Employees’ Association had a meeting with Chief Minister, and requested him to provide additional instalment of dearness allowance to the State employees.
\\At that time, Chief Minister had assured the delegation that necessary steps will be taken in the direction soon. And now, Chief Minister has lived up to his assurance by making the announcement. Followed by which, Finance Department has issued orders from Mantralaya pertaining to the increase in dearness allowance of State employees from 72 per cent to 80 per cent as on January 1, 2013. Chairman and General Secretary of Chhattisgarh State Employees’ Association said that the decision will benefit lakhs of employees and their families.