Kolkata, 24 September (H.S.): Ending a long wait for state government employees, the West Bengal government has decided to clear all pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears for the period between April 1, 2008, and December 31, 2015, in a single installment. The state Finance Department issued an official notification regarding the decision on Wednesday night.

Sources within the Finance Department indicate the administration aims to complete the DA disbursement before the upcoming Durga Puja holidays. The notification for clearing this eight-year backlog was released concurrently with the announcement that October salaries, pensions, and regular DA will be paid early on the 15th of the month.

The announcement drew mixed reactions from state employee unions, with some welcoming the financial relief and others pointing out glaring exclusions.

Debashish Shil, President of the West Bengal Government Employees Council, criticized the previous Mamata Banerjee administration for ignoring Supreme Court directives by only clearing dues for 2016–2019 and leaving the prior period unaddressed.

Praising the current administration, Shil stated, This government is just over four months old and has already released the previous DA arrears. During our June 1 meeting, they emphasized that with a 'double-engine government' at the Center and state, West Bengal employees would not lag behind other BJP-ruled states. As a result, employees are receiving an additional 20% DA this Puja.

Other union leaders, however, highlighted that several employee factions are still waiting for relief. Biswajit Gupta Chowdhury, a leader of the CPM-backed Co-ordination Committee, acknowledged the implementation of the Supreme Court's order but noted that employees under grant-in-aid institutions, boards, and corporations remain deprived of their rightful dues. He urged the state government to take positive action, noting that while the government recently assured the High Court that dues would be paid, no concrete timeline has been established.

Swapan Mandal, leader of the Left-backed Bengal Teachers and Education Workers Association, expressed sharp disappointment regarding the exclusion of specific sectors. While acknowledging that retired and active government employees are having their dues settled, he pointed out that teachers, education workers, and grant-in-aid staff, who spearheaded the DA movement and played a leading role in the recent change of government, remain entirely deprived. Calling it a breach of trust, Mandal lamented that these workers have not received even a single installment of their arrears ahead of the festive season.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh