Government employees in Himachal Pradesh have received a double boost ahead of Diwali as the government has increased the dearness allowance (DA) for employees from 45% to 50%, saying their contribution was crucial to the development of the state
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced 5% DA hike during a press conference in Shimla on Friday. The CM announced that additionally, regular Class-IV employees will receive an additional cash payment of ₹ 10,000 in November as part of the arrears resulting from a pay scale revision. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday announced that the state government to strengthen healthcare infrastructure will establish automated laboratory facilities at medical colleges, with an estimated investment of ₹ 28 crore to ₹ 30 crore.
The finance department also issued a notification regarding this on Friday.
Since the salary for October is payable in November, employees will receive the benefit of the increased DA in their November paychecks. However, separate orders will be issued regarding the specific method and timing for the payment of these outstanding amounts. This comes amid the BJP targeting the state government for failing to fulfil its poll promises and stalling development in the state.
With this, the DA for employees has risen from 45% to 50%. This government decision will benefit over 3,50,000 employees and pensioners. The DA hike includes arrears covering the period from July 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, up to September 30, 2026, according to the finance department’s directive. For now, the notification provides for the payment of the increased DA in cash, starting with the salary for October 2026. The state government aims to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant and among the country’s strongest and wealthiest states by 2032, while aspiring to make it the number one state in healthcare and education by 2030, said Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday while addressing a press conference in Shimla. “The state is moving towards becoming self reliant by 2032 and had the revenue deficit grant (RDG) not stopped we would have achieved the same this year only.
Through ‘Vyavastha Parivartan’ we focused on healthcare, education, rural economy, social security and economic reforms, rather than merely seeking political power,” he said. He said the government was strengthening specialist services at district and zonal hospitals through its Adarsh Swasthya Sansthan initiative and expanding diagnostic facilities, including MRI services, beyond major medical colleges. Sukhu was addressing a press conference in Shimla on Friday where he listed the achievements and accomplishments of the state government in the fields of health, education, rural economy and social empowerment.
