Jharkhand Govt Hikes DA For State Government Employees, Pensioners By 3 %

The Jharkhand government has announced an increase in the dearness allowance (DA) for its employees, raising it to 53% of the basic pay from the previous 50%. This adjustment will take effect from July 1, 2024. Pensioners will also see a rise in their dearness relief by 3 percentage points, bringing it to the same level of 53%.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren chaired a cabinet meeting where this proposal was approved. The decision is set to benefit over three lakh employees and pensioners throughout the state. In addition to this, the cabinet passed a total of 10 proposals, including administrative approval for Rs 99.56 crore dedicated to establishing a multi-disciplinary education and research university at Vinoba Bhave University in Hazaribag under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan.

Gratuity Limit Increase for Government Employees

The central government recently announced a hike in Dearness Allowance by 4%, reaching 50%, which has led to an increase in various other allowances such as retirement benefits and gratuity. This change significantly benefits some government employees. The maximum gratuity limit has been raised from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh for BSNL and MTNL employees who opted for a pension under the combined service framework.

This notable change took effect on January 1, 2024, aligning with the rise in Dearness Allowance (DA) to 50%. The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) had issued a notification on May 30 regarding this hike in gratuity limit for central government employees, effective from January 1, 2024.

Chief Minister Soren expressed optimism about Jharkhand's future, stating, "We are ready to move ahead with a visionary mindset for Jharkhand's betterment." This statement reflects the government's commitment to improving conditions for its workforce through these financial adjustments.

The recent DA hike by the central government has resulted in substantial increases in various allowances. These changes provide significant benefits to some government employees, particularly those nearing retirement. Such measures aim to enhance financial security and support for workers across different sectors.