Elections approaching, announcements to gain popularity: Welfare pension to be increased by ₹200: Salary revision also under consideration

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is moving to announce financial benefits in anticipation of a third consecutive term and a huge victory in the local body elections. Salary revision of employees and teachers, distribution of DA arrears, and increase in welfare pension amount are being considered. All this is being played as a trump card for the elections knowing that it will entail a huge financial liability.

The Chief Minister is likely to make an announcement in the Assembly on November 1, the Kerala Piravi Day. It is learnt that no announcement is likely to be made regarding ASHA workers. The welfare pension may be increased from Rs 1600 to Rs 1800. A promise will also be made to increase it gradually. There will be an announcement on when the salary revision will be implemented. The employees have seven installments of DA arrears. The plan is to pay two installments immediately. The timing of the remaining installments is likely to be announced. The government assesses that if all these are announced before the local body election notification, it will win the favor of the people and will be converted into votes.

20,000 crores needed for DA arrears

A total of eleven installments of DA arrears have been paid to government employees and pensioners since 2021, but four have been paid. About 20,000 crores will have to be found to pay the remaining seven installments alone. There is no way to pay this in total in the current economic crisis. That is why the move is to pay two installments immediately and announce a schedule for the rest. With the court's intervention to pay the DA arrears, the government cannot avoid it.

720 crore needed for welfare pension

61 crore will be required per month if welfare pensions are increased by Rs 200. About 720 crores should be found per year. 62 lakh people should be paid. The election promise was to increase the welfare pension to 2500. The government can create the impression that it has fulfilled its election promise if the welfare pension is announced to be increased by Rs 200 at regular intervals and the first increase is implemented.

Previous salary revision liability of Rs 25,000 crore

If a commission is appointed for salary revision as usual, the report will not be received before the term of this government. Therefore, it is more likely that a committee consisting of high-ranking officials will be formed and an announcement will be made that the salary revision will be implemented immediately after receiving the recommendations. A huge liability of Rs. 25,000 crore was incurred when the last salary revision was implemented. An arrears of about Rs. 4,000 crore had to be paid when it was implemented with retroactive effect.