J&K govt hikes DA for employees, pensioners by 3%

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday announced 3% hike in dearness allowance (DA) for its employees and pensioners, effective from July 2017.

According to an order issued by the state’s principal secretary finance, Navin Kumar Choudhary, the revised rate of DA would be 139% after this 3% increase.

The finance department also said the arrears for July- December 2017 will be paid in cash to the employees and will form part of the salary from January 2018 onwards.

According to the order, the enhancement in DA will also apply to the work charge/whole time contingent paid employees working in the regular timescale.

State finance minister Haseeb Drabu had in his budget speech in the state assembly on January 11 this year announced release of pending DA and implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations in favour of the state government employees.

He had also announced increase in the refreshment charges of the employees for working overtime during the legislature session from the existing ₹7,500 to ₹10,000.

“This is for the first time in decades that due to the fiscal stabilisation, the arrears on account of DA are being paid in cash,” Drabu said.

The minister said the farreaching fiscal management measures initiated by the present government during the past three years have resulted in discernible stabilisation of the resource position, enabling the finance department to extend several monetary benefits to its employees and put in place various welfare initiatives for other sections of the society including industry, trade, agriculturists, horticulturists, women, girls, students, youth and destitute.