Chhattisgarh government hikes dearness allowance of state employees by 6%

The hike will put an additional burden of Rs 2,160 crore per annum on the exchequer, the official said. A federation of state government officers and employees had staged a five-day strike last month over their various demands, including a hike in the DA and house rent allowance (HRA).

The federation had announced to again go on strike from August 22 to raise their demands. On August 13, a delegation of the Chhattisgarh Karamchari Adhikari Mahasangh (CAKM) had met Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who had given his consent to hike the DA by 6 percent, officials said.

The chief minister had also assured that he would consider the demand of increasing the HRA on the basis of the 7th Pay Commission scale, they said.

Unsatisfied with the 6 percent hike, the CAKM’s regional convenor Kamal Verma said the state employees had sought 34 percent DA and HRA as per the 7th Pay Commission scale, but both these demands have not been fulfilled. Even the 6 percent hike has been made effective from August, when it should have been given from July 2020, he said.

"As per our earlier announcement, we will go on indefinite strike from August 22," Verma said.