Early Puja Salary Hike
West Bengal Advances October Salaries and Increases Dearness Allowance for Durga Puja
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The advance-payment arrangement is a special measure limited to October 2026; the government’s regular salary and pension schedule remains unchanged for other months.
2
State government employees normally receive their salaries at the end of the month or at the beginning of the following month, making the October 15 disbursement an unusually early payment.
3
A workers’ representative said about 50,000 casual workers across state departments had gone five to six months without remuneration and urged the government to clear those outstanding dues by October 15.
4
The advance salary and DA increase had been announced earlier: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said in July that employees would receive an additional 20% DA from October and that the month’s salary would be paid before Durga Puja.
5
Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced the additional 20% DA and DR while presenting the state government’s first budget in June, describing the increase as recognition of the role played by government employees, teachers and other staff in implementing government work and policies.
West Bengal will pay October salaries, pensions, and family pensions early on October 15, ahead of Durga Puja festivities beginning October 16. The advance payment includes a major boost in dearness allowance and dearness relief, jumping from 18% to 38% of basic pay for eligible employees and pensioners, mid-day reported. Grant-in-aid salaries, contractual wages, and stipends will also be disbursed that day.
Dearness Allowance Jumps to 38 Percent
West Bengal has approved a substantial increase in dearness allowance and dearness relief effective October 1. The rate will rise to 38% of basic pay from the current 18%, according to thehansindia. Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced the additional 20% increase in June's budget presentation. He called the raise a recognition of government employees' and teachers' role in implementing state policies and work.
Early October Payment Breaks Regular Schedule
The October 15 payment date marks an unusually early disbursement for West Bengal. State government employees typically receive salaries at month's end or early the following month. hdfcsky noted this advance arrangement applies only to October 2026. The government's regular salary schedule remains unchanged for all other months.
The Finance Department has instructed treasuries and drawing and disbursing officers to submit all bills and documents in advance. This ensures timely crediting of payments to employee accounts on the scheduled date.
Casual Workers Still Await Back Pay
Despite the salary advance, thousands of casual workers remain unpaid. A workers' representative said approximately 50,000 casual workers across state departments have gone five to six months without any remuneration. indianewsnetwork reported the representative urged the government to clear all outstanding dues by October 15 along with regular salary payments.
Chief Minister Announced Benefits Earlier This Year
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari promised these benefits in July. He announced that employees would receive an additional 20% dearness allowance starting October and that October's salary would be paid before Durga Puja. businesstoday confirmed the advance payment and DA increase follow through on those earlier commitments to state workers.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
16
Articles
9
Reach
25
A
AnonymousAuthor
