INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KOLKATA: With a large section of the state government employees sticking to their demand for enhanced dearness allowance on par with that of
the Central government, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the government will not be able to provide it even if
the protesters "behead" her.Speaking at the extended budget session in the assembly, Banerjee cited the difference in the salary structures
of the central and West Bengal governments and claimed that the TMC government in the state is already giving its employees DA of 105 per
cent."How much do you (agitating government staffers) want? How much will satisfy you? Please chop off my head and then hopefully you will
If you do not like me, chop off my head
(united platform for struggle) are agitating for raising the DA on par with the central government employees.DA, she said, is not given by
the governments of BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Tripura and pension to retired state government employees is given only in West Bengal.The
Mamata Banerjee government raised DA for its employees by three per cent in this year's budget
It also issued a notification for DA grant to employees, pensioners and family pensioners at the rate of six per cent of their basic pay
with effect from March 1, 2023, following the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.Alleging financial deprivation by the Centre, she
said, "The state government is giving as much as possible
Paying 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".Continuing to speak in defence of her government's stand on the issue, Bannerjee
Money will not fall from the sky
mandatory for government servants who apply for leave to go abroad on a private vist
Prior permission of the competent authority for such visit is also required
The West Bengal government in 2015 allowed benefits under LTC scheme to the state government employees once in ten years to visit
neighbouting countries .Apparently hitting out at the leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari for visiting the agitating employees at Sahid
Minar area, Banerjee asked whether she should stop pension as it will save money and help her government raise the DA.Last week, agitating
government employees held a 48-hour 'pens down' in this connection ignoring warnings of action against them.
