Two days after Union Government’s decision, the State Government on Sunday, shortly ahead of the general elections, announced an increase of Dearness Allowance (DA) to 100 per cent from the existing 90 per cent for its nearly six lakh employees.
The DA hike would be effective retrospectively from January 1 this year. The DA was hiked to 90 per cent was in September 2013. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the 10 per cent increase in the DA, which would also benefit pension holders. According to official sources, the DA would also merge with the basic salary.