Kolkata, 05 August (H.S.) : The West Bengal government has officially issued a notification enhancing the Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees and pensioners to 38 per cent, fulfilling its commitment to provide the revised benefit before the Durga Puja festival.

According to a notification signed by Additional Chief Secretary (Audit Branch) P.K. Mishra on Tuesday, full-time state government employees will receive DA at the revised rate of 38 per cent with effect from October 1, 2026.

The DA revision follows the announcement made in the state budget by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, who had initially declared a 20 per cent increase, stating that the revised allowance would be paid from November. However, Chief Minister later announced that employees would receive the enhanced DA before the festive season, a promise now formalised through the notification.

The revised DA will not only apply to state government employees but also to teachers and non-teaching staff of government-aided educational institutions, employees of statutory bodies, government undertakings, panchayats, municipalities, municipal corporations and other local bodies.

The state government has also announced a corresponding increase in Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners and family pensioners. They will receive DR at the rate of 38 per cent of the revised basic pension or revised family pension from October 1, 2026. Pension-disbursing authorities have been directed to calculate the revised DR in each case, while the Principal Accountant General (A&E), West Bengal, will issue detailed implementation guidelines to banks in Kolkata and the Accountant General's offices in other districts.

For employees who continue to draw salaries under the pre-revised pay structure based on the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, the DA has been increased from 171 per cent to 223 per cent, also effective from October 1, 2026.

The government said the move would provide financial relief to lakhs of employees and pensioners ahead of the festive season. Treasury and sub-treasury officers have been authorised to implement the revised rates without waiting for further directions from the Accountant General. Copies of the notification have also been circulated to departmental commissioners, district magistrates, district judges, superintendents of police, sub-divisional officers, pay and accounts offices, and treasury offices across the state.

Employee organisations have largely welcomed the decision.

State Government Employees' Council president Debashis Shil thanked the Chief Minister for honouring her assurance to release the enhanced DA before Durga Puja. However, he urged the government to address pending issues related to Kolkata Municipal Corporation pensioners, who, he said, are yet to receive DA properly.

Bhaskar Ghosh, convener of the Sangrami Joutha Mancha, said the government had implemented the commitments made during discussions with employee representatives and expressed hope that the remaining demands would also be addressed.

On the other hand, Coordination Committee leader Biswajit Gupta Chowdhury said that while the government had released pending DA, it should also pay all outstanding dearness allowance in accordance with the national price index as determined by the Supreme Court.

Left-backed teachers' organisation leader Swapan Mondal welcomed the government's decision but said the revised DA would have been more beneficial if implemented from July. He also urged the government to clear the remaining 22 per cent DA by December.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh