7th Pay Commission News: The issue of non-payment of 18-month DA arrears was raised again in the monsoon session of Parliament. The Centre was again asked by two members of Parliament (MPs) whether the government is actively considering to release 18 months dearness allowance of central government employees and pensioners which was withheld during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
The MPs sought a reply from the government asking it to explain the reasons for not releasing the withheld arrears when the economy is the third largest in the world. They also sought details of representations received in this regard during 2024 till date and the action taken.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on the matter, Pankaj Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Finance, said, “The decision to freeze three instalments of Dearness Allowance(DA)/Dearness Relief (DR) to Central Government employees/pensioners due from 01.01.2020, 01.07.2020 and 01.01.2021 was taken in the context of COVID-19, which caused economic disruption, so as to ease pressure on Government finances.”
On the query of representations received, the minister said representations have been received during 2024 from Government employees’ associations including the National Council of joint Consultative Machinery (NCJCM). As the adverse financial impact of pandemic in 2020 and the financing of welfare measures taken by Government had a fiscal spill over beyond FY 2020-21, arrears of DA/DR were not considered feasible.
How much govt saved on account of 18-month DA freezing?
On account of freezing of three instalments of DA, the government saved an amount of Rs 34,402.32 crore. The Centre utilized the fund to tide over the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June this year after the return of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for a third term, the Centre received a proposal from National Council (staff side), Joint Consultative Machinery for Central Government Employees.
In a letter to Modi, NC JCM pressed for 14 long-standing demands, including clearance of 18-month DA arrears.
The letter said that there are some major issues which are agitating the minds of the central government employees and pensioners. The letter requested the government “to release the 18 months DA arrears frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic to the Central Government Employees and Pensioners”.
Akhilesh Yadav slams Centre over unpaid DA arrears to govt employees
Meanwhile, former UP CM and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has also slammed the Centre for freezing the DA arrears of central government employees and pensioners.