DA hike for TN Govt staff announced

Chennai, Apr 18 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government has announced three per cent hike in dearness allowance for its employees with effect from January one, 2006.

According to a GO issued by the Finance (Allowances) Department yesterday, the government had revised the DA rate from 21 per cent to 24 per cent in line with the Centre's announcement to its employees.

As many as 12.33 lakh state government employees will stand to benefit from the DA increase ranging from Rs 90 to Rs 1,500.

It will also benefit about 4.80 lakh pensioners who would get a hike of up to Rs 600 in their monthly pension.

The government had directed that the three-month arrears of the DA hike with effect from January one, 2006 be paid in cash.

The GO said the revised DA would be admissible to full time employees who at present were getting DA and paid from contingencies at fixed monthly rates.

However, the revised rates of DA would not be admissible to part time employees.

The revised GO would also apply to teaching and non-teaching staff working in aided educational institutions, employees under local bodies, employees governed by the University Grants Commission/All India Council for Technical Education scales of pay, the teachers/ physical directors/librarians in government and aided polytechnics and special diploma institutions, village assistants in revenue department, noon meal organisers, child welfare organisers and anganwadi workers.

Meanwhile, sources in the Election department said the Tamil Nadu Government's announcement of DA hike would not violate the Model Code of Conduct as it was a routine procedure followed by the Central and state governments.

Further, the state government had got the prior approval of the Election Commission, it added.

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