Mamata Banerjee unveils pre-election financial boost for West Bengal workers
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a series of financial benefits for state employees, pensioners, and religious functionaries. The move comes ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections and includes an increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) along with higher honorariums for priests and muezzins.
The Chief Minister declared that Dearness Allowance for state government employees will now align with the ROPA 2009 rules. This decision follows long-standing demands from 17.14 lakh employees, pensioners, and teachers, whose cases were previously considered in the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court. The revised DA will apply to all state government staff, pensioners, teachers, non-teaching employees, and those working in grant-in-aid institutions, with payments beginning in March 2026.
Additionally, the monthly honorarium for priests and muezzins has been raised by Rs 500. Their new monthly payment will now stand at Rs 2,000. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari criticised the announcement, labelling it a 'desperate last-minute poll gimmick' ahead of the elections.
The new financial measures will take effect from March 2026, benefiting a large section of state employees and religious functionaries. The Chief Minister's announcement addresses both long-standing demands and election-related expectations.
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