7th Pay Commission Review: Stagnation of 18-Month Bonus DA Remuneration, Current Situation, and Future Prospects for Central Administration Personnel
Central government workers and retirees in India are fed up as hell over the 18-month Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears debacle. So what's the beef? Here's the skinny on this heated issue.
When COVID-19 hit India like a dirty joke, the government pulled a classic money move by freezing three installments of DA and Dearness Relief (DR) payments for government staffers and pensioners. The goal? To save some dough during those tough pandemic times. These frozen payments,originally due from January 1, 2020, July 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021, are another hard punch in the gut for these folks who continued working through the lockdown.
Now that things are (seemingly) looking up, the question remains: will they see that dough they're rightfully entitled to? As of now, the answer's a big fat no. The government claims it's not financially possible to shell out the arrears for the time when DA stopped rolling in. But given the growing demand from employee unions -- who see this as a matter of employees' rights -- and increasing public pressure, will this stance hold water?
Employee unions are pissed off because they believe that DA is part of their salary structure (duh) and should help employees deal with inflation and cost-of-living increases. These unions are fighting to the bitter end and aren't afraid to kick up a fuss. They're demanding the release of the 18-month DA arrears, along with some other whacks to improve pay, pension, work conditions, and job security.
On the other side, the government is digging its heels in, saying that releasing the arrears would put too much strain on its already stretched wallet. But the question begs: At what cost should government employees suffer? As the 8th Pay Commission draws closer (expected to take effect in January 2026), we'll have to wait and see if the government changes its tune.
In the meantime, central government employees and pensioners keep pushing for their rights. With ongoing campaigns, protests, and support from the public, who knows what could happen next. One thing's for sure: this isn't the end of the road for the DA arrears saga. Stay tuned for more updates on this rollercoaster ride.
References
- Central government employees and pensioners demand release of 18-month DA arrears. (2023, Aug 15). Business Today. Retrieved from https://www.businesstoday.in/ Latest/news/economy-politics/central-government-employees-and-pensionersdemand-release-of-18-month-da-arrears/story/455495. html
- Central government declines to release 18-month DA and DR arrears. (2022, Dec 21). Financial Express. Retrieved from https://www.financialexpress.com/ economy/central-government-declines-to-release-18-month-da-and-dr-arrears/2402983/
- Central government employees and pensioners: An unfortunate tale of unpaid allowances and unfilled promises. (2021, Dec 10). The Wire. Retrieved from https://thewire.in/ government/ central-government-employees-andpensioners-an-unfortunate-tale-of- unpaid-allowances-and-unfilled-promises
- NA meetings: Staff side urges government to release pending DA arrears. (2021, Aug 25). The Hindu. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/ news/national/na-meetings-staff-side-urges-government-to-releasep ending-da-arrears/article36498906.ece
The ongoing controversy over the 18-month Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears in India has sparked discussions in the realm of politics and general news, as well as the business sector, given the financial implications for the government. Employee unions argue that DA is an integral part of their salary structure and should help them cope with inflation and cost-of-living increases, while the government maintains that releasing the arrears could strain its budget.
