AP Cabinet enhances DA for employees

Hyderabad, Nov 10 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet today approved enhancement of dearness allowance at the rate of 6.594 per cent of basic pay and cumulative rate of 42.39 per cent of basic pay with effect from July one, 2008.

Talking to newspersons here, Information Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy said the decision would cost the exchequer Rs 847.31 crore per annum and benefit 13.45 lakh employees.

The State Government employees, full-time contingent employees, employees of aided institutions and universities drawing pay in 2005 pay scales and state government pensioners would be covered by the move, he added.

The Cabinet has decided to set apart Rs 1158.16 crore as scholarship for 7.12 lakh Backward Classes(BC) students and reimbursement of fee to 12.10 lakh students, he added.

The minister said the Cabinet also approved mobilisation of an additional Rs 1000 crore from the World Bank to benefit 94 lakh Women Self Help Group(SHGs).

UNI SM VA KVV 1810