West Bengal state employees upset after Centre hikes DA by 6%

Kolkata, March 23: The Centre's decision to hike dearness allowance (DA) by six per cent on the eve of Holi to benefit over one crore government employees and pensioners have left the state government employees in West Bengal disappointed. [Centre hikes DA by 6%]

According to local news channels, the state government employees have expressed displeasure over the 50 per cent difference between the state and the central DAs. With six per cent increase, the central government employees' DA has increased from 119 per cent to 125 per cent. [West Bengal polls 2016: Know the state]

According to TV reports, the state employees were not happy with the fact that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government is busy handing out lakhs of rupees in donations but not taking enough care of its own employees.

A member of the Opposition said as the Opposition leader, Mamata Banerjee had promised to take up the issue after coming to power but after she took charge after the 2011 Assembly elections, the situation was not addressed much.

TMC supporters said the state government was facing financial problems and getting no cooperation from the Centre. Despite the problems, it continued to sponsor social welfare schemes, they said.

The Centre's DA hike, which will cost the exchequer an additional Rs 14,725 crore annually, will take effect from January 1, 2016, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the media after the Union Cabinet which took the decision.

Oneindia News