Central DA hiked by 3 pc

New Delhi, Mar 23 (UNI) The Central government employees will now take home a fatter pay packet with the Union Cabinet today hiking the dearness allowance by three per cent.

''The DA has been hiked by three per cent,'' Commerce Minister Kamal Nath told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

However, at an official press briefing, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi refused to make the announcement in view of the model code of conduct in place following the announcement of Assembly elections in five states.

The increase in DA from 21 per cent to 24 per cent will cost the government an additional Rs 1,130 crore per annum. The burden for January-February 2006-07 on account of the DA hike will be Rs 1,320 crore.

The additional cost in case of pensioners as dearness relief will be Rs 460 crore per annum.

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