Punjab govt enhances DA by 6 per cent

Chandigarh, Jul 15 (UNI) The Punjab Government today enhanced Dearness Allowance (DA) payable to Punjab Government employees and pensioners from the existing rate of 41 per cent to 47 per cent of basic pay plus Dearness Pay with effect from January one this year.

According to an official spokesman the whole amount on account of enhanced Dearness Allowance due for the period from 1-1-2008 to 31-7-2008 will be credited to the General Provident fund accounts of the employees. For the period from 1-08-2008 enhanced dearness allowance would be paid in cash.

However, in the case of pensioners entire amount on account of enhanced Dearness Allowance would be paid in cash with effect from January one this year.

The spokesman added that in the case of such employees who have been appointed on or after 1-1-2004 under the new restructured defined Contributory Pension Scheme and have not yet opened their accounts under Tier-II of the scheme, their respective Departments would purchase National Saving Certificate/Kissan Vikas Patras from Post Offices in the State of Punjab with the amount of arrears on account of enhanced Dearness Allowance in the names of such employees.

Instructions to this effect were today issued to all Head of Departments, Registrar, High Court of Punjab and Haryana, District and Session Judges and Deputy Commissioners in the State.

UNI HS RL NS1725