Kolkata: Stating that her commitment to the state government employees will be fulfilled ahead of Durga Puja, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced the increase in salary of civic volunteers.
In the same breath, she also announced the increase in monthly remuneration of ASHA and ICDS workers.
From October 1 onwards, civic volunteers will be getting Rs 8,000 per month and Rs 1,000 per month has been increased for both ASHA and ICDS workers.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made the announcement for the civic volunteers, ASHA and ICDC workers, after giving Banga Bibhushan and Banga Bhushan awards to successful people from different fields at Nazrul Manch on Monday evening and said that the announcement for the state government employees will be made ahead of Durga Puja.
She said: "Our government completed seven years in May and it has always been my endeavour to bring smiles on the faces of people. I have spoken to Chief Secretary Malay De and Director General of Police Surajit Kar Purkayastha, in connection with the increase in the salary of civic volunteers. They (civic volunteers) work a lot and they are performing well. There are around 1.20 lakh civic volunteers. They earlier used to get a salary of Rs 3,500. Last year, it was increased to Rs 5,500. We have found their performance to be excellent and in a bid to secure their future, the decision has been taken to increase it to Rs 8,000."
"They have to work with more responsibility and they will be given the recognition of junior home guard. I want them to be given training to promote them to the post of police constable," said the Chief Minister.
Banerjee said: "At the same time, ASHA workers work a lot in villages. There are around 50,000 ASHA workers. The Centre had stopped allotting the money to give them stipend. We had continued giving it to them. They used to get Rs 1,500 and later, Rs 500 was increased. So, apart from their incentives, they used to get Rs 2,000 per month. From October 1 onwards, they will be getting Rs 3,000."
She said: "There are around 2.30 lakh ICDS workers and they will also get Rs 1,000 more per month." With the announcement of the increment for the three sectors, a total of 4 lakh families will get benefitted.
In connection with the salary of the state government employees, she said: "We cannot take step in one go for the benefit of all. But we do as much as possible and we try to give recognition to all who work. Today, I have made the announcement for the three sectors. But I am not making the announcement for the state government employees right at this moment. But the commitment I made to them will be fulfilled on time and the announcement would be made ahead of Durga Puja. The Finance minister is taking care of it."
It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had made the announcement of increasing the dearness allowance of the state government employees by 15 percent, ahead of Durga Puja in 2017.