Punjab govt announces hike in dearness allowance by 12pc

The Punjab Government on Monday announced to hike Dearness Allowance (DA)  by 12% for the state government employees/pensioners who are getting their pay on the basis of unrevised scales,. Disclosing this here, Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said that the rate of DA has been enhanced from 139 to 151 per cent of the unrevised basic pay with effect from 1 July, 2012. Dhindsa said that the whole amount on account of enhanced dearness allowance due for the period from 1 July, 2012 to 31August 2012 would be credited to the General Provident Fund account of employees. He said that this amount would be deemed as additional amount in the GPF accounts and the interest on this amount would be payable from the 1st Day of the next month. He said that from 1 Sept, 2012, enhanced dearness allowance would be paid in cash. The Finance Minister said that in case of pensioners, the entire amount on account of enhanced dearness allowance would be paid in cash with effect from  July, 2012. He said that other conditions for the payment of dearness allowance would remain the same.