THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Although the government is saying that the DA withheld due to the financial crisis has been put into the provident fund, it is alleged that it is not there. Five and a half lakh government employees who are seeking DA arrears are gearing up for a legal battle and strike.

Those who believed the government order and tried to take loans from PF received the reply that the amount has not arrived in the PF account. Although the employees approached the Accountant General and the Finance Department, there has been no response for three months. The Accountant General's Office is saying that it is awaiting the Finance Department's reply.

Due to the Covid-induced financial crisis, DA was not given to the employees despite getting sanctioned. The government order stated that employees can withdraw the arrears of 2019 this year. Arrears up to July 2019 can be withdrawn from April and arrears up to December from September. However, the employees became worried when they were not able to withdraw the money.

The government order does not state whether arrears for six months from January to June 2019 or total arrears for 26 months were deposited in PF. It is up to the government to clarify this. The government has been silent for three months.