Good news for government employees; one installment of DA, DR granted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has granted one instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to state government employees and teachers. Finance Minister K N Balagopal announced that one instalment of Dearness Relief (DR) has also been granted to service pensioners.

The benefits of the DA and DR hike will apply across all sectors, including UGC, AICTE, and Medical Services. This will result in an annual increase of approximately Rs 2,000 crore in the government’s expenditure. The newly sanctioned DA and DR will be reflected in the salaries and pensions starting from next month.

One instalment of DA and DR was granted earlier in April this year. The Chief Minister had said in the legislative assembly that the state government intends to provide two instalments of DA and DR annually to employees and pensioners starting this fiscal year. Despite the financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerala had successfully implemented an improved salary revision.

The benefits, including Dearness Allowance (DA), were paid in cash at the beginning of the 2021-22 financial year. However, due to the adverse stance of the Central Government, Kerala faced an unprecedented financial crunch, resulting in delays in distributing some benefits to employees. The Finance Minister also stated that the government is taking a committed stance in ensuring the benefits of employees and pensioners.