CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 11: The Punjab Government today enhanced Dearness Allowance payable to Punjab Government employees, pensioners and employees of Private Aided Institutions from the existing rate of 47% to 54% of Basic Pay plus Dearness Pay w.e.f.1st July, 2008.
Disclosing this here today, Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal, Finance Minister said that in the case of employees, the whole amount on account of enhanced Dearness Allowance due for then period from 1-7-2008 to 31-12-2008 would be credited to the General Provident Fund Accounts of the employees. For the period from 1.01.2009 enhanced dearness allowance would be paid in cash.
However, in the case of pensioners entire amount on account of enhanced Dearness Allowance would be paid in cash w.e.f.1.7.2008.
The Finance Minister said that payment of Dearness Allowance would lead to an annual burden of Rs.315.09 crore on the exchequer of the State. The burden of Rs.225.06 crore would on account of payment to employees, Rs.33.76 crore on account of employees of private aided Institutions and Rs.56.27 crore due to pensioners.
The Minister added that in the case of such employees who have been appointed on or after 1-1-2004 under the news restructured defined Contributory Pension Scheme and have not yet opened their accounts under Tier-II of the scheme, the Department would purchase National Saving Certificate/Kissan Vikas Patras from Post Offices in the State of Punjab with the amount of arrears on account of enhanced Dearness Allowance in the names of such employees.
Instructions to this effect were today issued to all Head of Departments, Registrar, High Court of Punjab & Haryana, District and Session Judges and Deputy Commissioners in the State.