The Hindu : Front Page : Two instalments of DA for employees

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Friday, Dec 16, 2005

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Two instalments of DA for employees

Special Correspondent

Pro-LDF organisations on the warpath

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has decided to release two overdue instalments of dearness allowance (DA) to its employees and pensioners, Finance Minister Vakkom Purushothaman has said.

They will start getting the first instalment involving an increase of two per cent in the DA along with their salary/pension for the current month, payable in January 2006.

This instalment had fallen due in January 2004. The arrears for the period from January 2004 to November 2005 will be transferred to the Provident Fund (PF) account in the case of the serving employees. The pensioners will get the arrears also along with their monthly pensions, Mr. Purushothaman said here on Thursday.

The second instalment involving an increase of three per cent in the DA will be released along with the salary/pension for the month of February 2006, payable in March 2006.

This instalment had fallen due in July 2004 and the arrears payable up to January 2006 will be transferred to the PF account in the case of the employees. The arrears due to the pensioners will be paid along with their monthly pension.

At a press conference called to announce this decision, Mr. Purushothaman said the disbursement of these overdue instalments of DA would cost the exchequer Rs.407.68 crores a year.

Meanwhile, the pro-LDF service organisations said that the extension of the term of the Pay Commission was part of a move to evade the responsibility of implementing the pay revision by the present Government. They announced direct action, including a token strike on January 24 and an indefinite strike in February.

This was announced in a joint statement on Thursday by the C. H. Asokan, general convener of the Action Council of State Employees and Teachers, M.N.V.G. Adiyodi, general convener of the Adhyapaka Service Sanghatana Sasmara Samithi and P.P.M. Ashraf, convener, Adhyapaka Service Sanghatana Aikyavedi.

They described the move as ``treacherous.'' The extension of the term till February 28, 2006, was against all promises. It was part of a conspiracy to drag on the issue till the end of the Government's term, they said.

General secretary of the Joint Council of State Service Organisations C.R. Joseprakash said that the extension of the term of the commission was part of a move to put off the pay revision. J.M. Musthafa, general secretary of the NGO Association, described as ``reprehensible'' the extension of the term of the commission. It showed that the Chief Minister's words cannot be believed.

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