Diwali bonanza for Punjab Govt employees/pensioners

by Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, NOV 12

The Punjab Government today announced Diwali Bonanza by enhancing the rate of Dearness Allowance (DA) payable to the state government employees/pensioners from 65 per cent to 72 per cent of the revised basic pay with effect from 1st July, 2012.

While disclosing this here, Finance Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa said that the enhanced DA due to be given to the employees from 1^st July, 2012 to 31^st October, 2012 has been given in two ways. He said that the enhanced DA for the first two months i.e. from 1^st July, 2012 to 31^st August, 2012 would be deposited in to the General Provident Fund (GPF) account of employees, whereas the arrear of the DA calculating from 1^st September, 2012 to 31^st October, 2012 would be given in cash. He further said that from 1st November, 2012 onwards, enhanced dearness allowance would be merged in the salaries to be given to the employees.

Mr. Dhindsa said that the dearness allowance has been increased on the pattern of Union Government. The Finance Minister said that 7 per cent DA increase would put an additional liability of Rs. 351.63 crore on the state exchequer.

Mr. Dhindsa said that in case of such employees, who have been appointed on or after 1st January, 2004, enhanced dearness allowance due for the period from July 1 2012 to Augustt, 2012 would be paid in the shape of National Saving Certificates/Kisan Vikas Patras.

The Finance Minister said that in case of pensioners, the entire amount on account of enhanced dearness allowance would be paid in cash with effect from  July 1, 2012.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Punjab Civil Secretariat Employees’ Association led by its General Secretary Mr. Karnail Singh Saini called on the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and thanked him for announcing 7% hike in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for the state government employees and pensioners on the Central pattern.

        Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the association expressed gratitude to Mr. Badal for giving them a Diwali gift by announcing DA, a day prior to the festival of lights. The Chief Minister asked the association to work hard with utmost dedication, honesty and sincerity besides efficiently in delivering the goods at the cutting edge. He reiterated the state government was committed to ensure clean, transparent and effective governance to the people, as the employees were the backbone of administration.

 The members of the association assured Mr. Badal that they would motivate the employees to discharge their duties with due diligence and far more efficiency in future to cherish the aspirations of the general public.

The delegation included other members; Parmdeep Singh Bhabat, Gurnam Singh, Avtar Singh and Resham Lal.