Shimla: Himachal Pradesh government employees may receive an update on their long-awaited Dearness Allowance (DA) increase ahead of Diwali. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has indicated that the state government is considering releasing the next DA instalment before the festival.
The Chief Minister shared this information during a public gathering in Kaza while visiting the Spiti Valley on a two-day tour. However, the government has not yet confirmed the revised DA rate or the date of payment.
Current DA Rate and Employees’ Demands
According to the information provided, Himachal Pradesh government employees currently receive DA at 45% of their applicable salary. Employee organisations have been seeking an increase, with some demanding an 8-percentage-point hike in line with the approach adopted in Punjab.
Several employee groups have also called for the DA rate to be raised to 60%. The article cites the central government’s DA rate as 60% and notes that its most recent increase was 2 percentage points.
Employees are now waiting for the state government to announce whether the next instalment will be released before Diwali.
What CM Sukhu Said About DA and Pending Arrears
The DA issue has been under discussion for several months. In July, Chief Minister Sukhu said the government was reviewing DA payments and pending arrears. Discussions were also held with the Finance Department to assess the state’s financial position.
In August, the Chief Minister again addressed employees’ concerns and assured government staff and pensioners that DA payments would be made promptly. He also spoke about settling outstanding arrears, leave encashment and gratuity payments.
The government further announced an additional payment of ₹20,000 for Class IV employees who retired between January 1, 2016, and January 31, 2022. Instructions were also issued to revise pay rules for Class I, Class II and Class III pensioners.
Contract Medical Officers Received a Salary Increase
Apart from DA-related discussions, the Himachal Pradesh government implemented a 78% salary increase for contract and trainee medical officers in early August.
The revision, aligned with the 7th Pay Commission guidelines, increased their monthly salary from ₹33,600 to ₹60,000.
Government employees are now awaiting further clarification on the proposed DA instalment. The final decision will depend on an official announcement by the Himachal Pradesh government.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the information provided in the source material. The proposed DA hike before Diwali has not been confirmed as a final government decision. Employees should refer to official state government notifications for updates on DA rates, payment dates and arrears.