Mamata Banerjee announces 3% hike in DA from Jan 2021

Eye on West Bengal Assembly Election 2020

Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee, on Thursday, announced a 3 percent hike in Dearness Allowance (D.A) from January 2021 for state government employees and said the state coffers would never run dry for its staffs, although it was yet to receive dues of Rs.85000 crore from the Union Government.

Mamata Banerjee during her address to members of the Trinamool Congress affiliated government employees’ association at the Nabanna (State Secretariat), said dues payable by the Centre to Bengal had been mounting over a period of time sunder several heads – UGC grant, GST and funds for Coronavirus battle among others.

“We had not been receiving our financial dues. At least Rs.8000 crore is due under GST. Despite financial constraints, we had met the recommendations of all previous pay commission (Sixth Pay Commission). We will also provide 3% hike in DA from January 2021” she said “the exercise will incur an expense of Rs.2,200 Crore on the State’s exchequer”

In a different announcement, TMC Supremo further said her government will provide 9.5 lakh tablets for almost 14000 Higher Secondary Schools and 636 Madrasas for Online Classes .

The state has also made arrangements to ensure RT-PCR tests are conducted at a rate of Rs.950.

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