The West Bengal government has rolled out a significant financial relief initiative for its employees and pensioners. As per the latest directive, an ad hoc bonus of Rs 6,800 will be granted to select government employees who are not covered under any productivity-linked bonus system and earn a monthly salary of less than Rs 44,000 as of March 2024. This move by the Mamata Banerjee government aims to provide monetary assistance to thousands of eligible employees, ensuring additional financial stability.
Eid bonus
According to the state finance department, employees from the Muslim community will receive their bonus ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, while others will benefit from the scheme between September 15 and 19. In addition, pensioners across the state will receive an ex gratia payment of Rs 3,500, further broadening the scope of financial aid.
Interest-free advance for employees
To alleviate financial constraints, the government has also sanctioned an interest-free advance of up to Rs 20,000 for employees earning up to Rs 52,000 per month in March. This initiative is expected to provide much-needed financial flexibility to government workers, particularly during economic uncertainty.
In a parallel development, the West Bengal government has informed the Supreme Court of its plan to reassess the criteria for backwardness in the state. The evaluation will be conducted by the State Commission for Backward Classes, with a commitment to completing the process within three months. The Supreme Court has acknowledged this submission and scheduled the related proceedings for July.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the state, requested the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, to defer the hearing until the evaluation is complete. The court has agreed, emphasising that the process will proceed “without prejudice to the rights of either party.”