In a move affecting thousands of state employees, the Assam Cabinet has approved a 3 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA), effective from July, announced Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The new rate brings the DA to 53 per cent, aligning state employees with their central government counterparts.
Addressing the press after a cabinet meeting in Guwahati, Sarma detailed the implementation timeline.
“The increased DA will be payable with retrospective effect from July, and the arrear amount will be paid in four equal instalments with the monthly salaries from January to April next year,” Sarma stated.
Revised DA payments will commence from December.
Additionally, the cabinet has decided to amend the Assam Tea Plantation Provident Fund scheme.
Previously, tea plantation workers earning above Rs 15,000 monthly were excluded from provident fund benefits.
“As wages of the workers are now increasing, we do not want anyone to be deprived of PF benefits. Hence, it has been decided to remove the cap of Rs 15,000 monthly earnings,” said the Chief Minister.
The amendment is expected to extend retirement security to a broader section of Assam’s tea garden workforce, as wages in the sector have risen in recent years.
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