TN hikes DA of staff, pensioners by 82%

TN hikes DA of staff, pensioners by 82%

CM Stalin Also Sanctions ₹170cr For Pongal Gift

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.12.2021

Even while citing the high debt burden of Tamil Nadu to possibly put off implementing some of its poll promises, the DMK government on Tuesday announced an increase in dearness allowance from 17% to 31% to its employees and pensioners that will result in the state incurring an additional annual expenditure of ₹8,724 crore.

Chief minister M K Stalin ordered the increase of 14 percentage points in dearness allowance, which will result in more than 82% increase in dearness allowance for the employees and pensioners from January 1, next year.

On September 7, Stalin had informed the assembly, while making a statement under Section 110, about the state government’s intent to increase the dearness allowance for its employees and pensioners from January 1, 2022, the release added.

Stalin also sanctioned an additional ₹170 crore as Pongal gift for category ‘C’ and ‘D’ employees, besides pensioners, those on special timescale and those who retired from such services and former village administrative officers.

While category ‘C’ and ‘D’ employees will receive ₹3,000 as Pongal gift, for pensioners it will be ₹500. People on special timescale will receive ₹1,000 and former village administrative officers and those retired from special timescale will receive ₹500 as Pongal gift from the state government.

Despite the state struggling under debt burden, Stalin had ordered the sanction of the amount needed to pay the dearness allowance considering the welfare of the government employees and pensioners, the release said.