The state government on Monday announced a seven per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) for government staff, teachers, pensioners and family pensioners.
Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa who made the announcement in the Assembly said the hike was in line with the Centre’s decision to enhance DA for its employees.
Making a suo motu statement, she said the hike would have retrospective effect from January 1 and would benefit 18 lakh government employees, teachers, anganwadi and nutritious meal scheme workers, pensioners and village assistants in the revenue department.
“I am happy to announce a seven per cent hike in DA for the state government employees, teachers, pensioners and beneficiaries of family pensioners,” she said and added that the enhanced DA would be paid in cash at one go.
The move would entail the state government an annual expenditure of Rs 1,383.49 crore, she added.
Ms Jayalalithaa said her government was aware of the fact that government employees played a crucial role in implementing various schemes and in taking different projects of the government to the people.
Likewise, the teachers too performed a selfless service in transforming children into the future pillars of society and in grooming them into responsible citizens, decision-makers and popular personalities.
In recognition of the important role played by the teachers and government employees, her government had decided to increase the DA by seven per cent, extending the benefit being enjoyed by the Central government employees.