Punjab Govt Employees to Rally in CM Bhagwant Mann’s Constituency Over DA Order

Chandigarh: Punjab government employees are set to hold a major rally in Dhuri, the home constituency of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on October 10, amid continuing concerns over the state government’s latest Dearness Allowance (DA) order.

The Sanjha Mulazim Manch, an umbrella organisation representing 153 unions of Punjab government employees, announced the rally following a meeting in Ludhiana on Sunday. The employees are seeking clarity over the September 23 Finance Department order announcing an 8% DA accrual for employees of state departments, boards, corporations and those posted in districts.

Why are employees demanding clarification?

According to employee representatives, the September 23 order does not specify the date from which the newly announced DA will be payable. They have also raised concerns over arrears linked to two pending 4% DA instalments.

The two instalments relate to July 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, according to the employee unions. They have said that the latest order does not clearly address the arrears associated with these instalments.

Employee representatives have also alleged that the latest order could separate Punjab's DA arrangement from the central pattern. These are the unions' claims and are part of the ongoing dispute with the state government.

Government had offered two 4% instalments

The announcement comes days after a September 18 meeting between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, cabinet ministers and representatives of employee unions.

At that meeting, the state government offered two DA instalments of 4% each. Following the meeting, employees had announced that they would end their protest. Mann had also assured them that discussions on their other demands would be held in the first week of October.

According to senior government officials cited by Hindustan Times, implementation of the DA accrual would entail an additional expenditure of around ₹231 crore per month for the state government.

District meetings planned before October 10 rally

Before the main rally, employee organisations plan to conduct district-level meetings on September 30 to mobilise members and discuss the DA issue.

Sahil Sharma, general secretary of the Civil Secretariat Employees' Union, said employees have been demanding 18% DA along with arrears pending since 2023. He also said several other demands raised by the unions have not yet been discussed with the government.

A proposed mock Vidhan Sabha session that had been announced by the employees for September 30 has been deferred for the time being.

Employees have been protesting since August

Punjab government employees have been engaged in protests since August over DA and other service-related demands.

According to reports, their demands also include restoration of the old pension scheme, regularisation of contractual employees and minimum wages for certain categories of workers, including mid-day meal, ASHA and Anganwadi workers.

The employee groups have said that their previously announced programmes will continue and that they should receive advance information about any meeting with the government.

The October 10 rally in Sangrur district will therefore be the next major programme in the employees' ongoing campaign over DA and other service-related issues.