Maharashtra government has announced a 3% increase in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees.
This decision comes after an eight-month-long wait and addresses the demands of various employee associations who had been advocating for a hike since July 2024.
The announcement, which includes the payment of arrears, is expected to benefit approximately 1.6 million employees across the state.
Maharashtra Government DA Hike: Background and Context
The demand for a DA hike had been a pressing issue for Maharashtra government employees. They had been facing the brunt of rising inflation.
Employee associations had been vocal about their demands, even threatening to stage protests if their concerns were not addressed.
The Maharashtra State Government Employees Confederation (MSGEC) had been at the forefront of these demands, organizing meetings and discussions to pressurize the government into action.
The Maharashtra government has approved a 3% increase in the DA, raising it from the existing 50% to 53%.
This decision will be effective from July 1, 2024. It ensures that employees receive arrears for the period from July 2024 to January 2025.
The state government will disburse the total dues, amounting to over ₹1,200 crore, along with the employees’ February 2025 salaries.
Employee Reactions and Union Involvement
The employees, who had been waiting for this decision for several months, have expressed a sense of relief.
Vishwas Katkar, the general secretary of MSGEC, pointed out that the delay in the DA hike was due to the financial burden.
Various welfare schemes announced by the state government imposed this burden.
These schemes include Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin, Annapurna, and free electricity for farmers. Collectively, they imposed a financial burden exceeding ₹90,000 crore.
The Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, acknowledged the employees’ demands.
They then took steps to address these concerns.
Increasing the DA and paying the arrears is seen as a positive step towards maintaining employee morale.
It also aims to ensure financial stability for government employees.
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