The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has announced a 40 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA) for 6,507 computer teachers and extended regularisation benefits to 1,007 non-teaching employees working under the Samagra Shiksha programme as part of its Diwali announcements.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the DA for computer teachers working under the Punjab Information and Communication Technology Education Society (PICTES) had been increased from 181 per cent to 221 per cent.
Describing the decision as a Diwali gift, Mann said the government had approved the increase to provide financial relief to thousands of computer teachers across the state.
Samagra Shiksha employees to receive salary benefits
In a separate decision, the Punjab government has regularised the services of 1,007 non-teaching employees working under Samagra Shiksha. The chief minister said the move would provide greater job security and stability to the employees.
The government has also decided to extend salary-related benefits to these regularised employees, Mann said, reiterating that the welfare of government employees and their financial security remained a priority for his administration.
“No stone is being left unturned by the state government to ensure the welfare and well-being of its employees. We are committed to providing them with a secure future and ensuring that they receive the benefits they deserve,” he said.
Separate DA hike for government employees and pensioners
The latest announcement comes days after the Punjab government approved a separate three-percentage-point increase in DA for state government employees and dearness relief (DR) for pensioners.
The earlier revision raised the DA rate from 50 per cent to 53 per cent, benefiting nearly eight lakh employees and pensioners. The revised payments are scheduled to be reflected in salaries and pensions in December.
However, the announcements have come amid continuing demands from employee and pensioner organisations for the release of pending DA arrears, implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and regularisation of contractual and outsourced workers.
Mann reiterated that his government was committed to improving employees' welfare and ensuring that they received the benefits they were entitled to.