Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee asserted that the TMC administration already provides its employees with DA of 105 percent, citing the disparity between the compensation systems of the central and West Bengal governments. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that her government will not be able to pay any more dearness allowance to its employees, even if the protestors “behead” her. This statement was made amid protests over raising the dearness allowance of state government employees to the same level as that of the Central government.
“How much do you want? How much will it satisfy you?” Banerjee said while speaking at the extended budget session in the Assembly on Monday. “Please chop off my head and then hopefully you will be satisfied … If you do not like me, chop off my head. But you will not get any more from me,” she added. Bengal CM asserted that the TMC administration already provides its employees with DA of 105%, citing the disparity between the compensation systems of the central and West Bengal governments.
She added that only West Bengal offers pensions to retired state government workers and that the BJP-run administrations in Tripura and Uttar Pradesh do not grant DA. The Sangrami Joutha Mancha (united platform for struggle), among other state government employee unions, is pushing for the DA to be raised to the same level as the central government workforce.
In this year’s budget, the Banerjee-led government increased DA for its employees by 3%. In accordance with the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, it also published a notification for DA grant to employees, retirees, and family pensioners at the rate of 6% of their basic pay with effect from March 1, 2023. Accusing the Center of financial exploitation, she said, “The state government is giving as much as possible. Paying a DA is not mandatory. The scales of pay of central and state government employees are different. State government employees get more leaves. It will not work to get more leaves and demand more DA”.
“Does the state have a Reserve Bank? We are yet to get Rs one lakh crore from the Centre. Money will not fall from the sky. I have given government employees the opportunity to go to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand,” she added. For government employees who request permission to travel overseas on a personal visit, no objection certifications are required. For such a visit, prior approval from the relevant authority is also necessary. In 2015, the state government employees in West Bengal were granted incentives under the LTC scheme once every 10 years to travel to nearby nations. Agitating government workers last week staged a 48-hour “pens down” in this regard, disobeying threats of repercussions.