Himachal Pradesh Announces 5 Percent DA Hike for Government Employees

Ahead of the Diwali festival, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced a 5 percent increase in the dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees and pensioners. The decision aims to provide financial relief to state workers during the festive season.

According to the Chief Minister, the newly announced 5 percent DA benefit includes a fresh 4 percent increase alongside the clearance of a pending 1 percent allowance from the previous period. Officials noted that an official notification regarding the enhancement will be issued soon.

In addition to the DA hike, the state government declared a special financial assistance package for Class-IV employees. These workers will receive an additional 10,000 rupees revision arrear, which is scheduled to be deposited directly into their bank accounts on November 1st.

Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized that the state administration is fully committed to the welfare of its workforce. He stated that the government wanted to ensure that Class-IV employees could celebrate the festival of lights with enthusiasm and joy.

The broader financial package is expected to benefit roughly 2.75 million employees and pensioners across the state, offering timely economic support to help manage festive expenses.

Alongside the employee benefits, the Chief Minister addressed the state's financial situation, urging legislators, officers, doctors, engineers, and teachers to cooperate with expenditure-reduction measures to maintain fiscal discipline.

Addressing opposition claims regarding the state's debt burden, Sukhu clarified that the total debt stands at approximately 99,000 billion rupees, disputing higher estimates. He also pointed out financial pressures resulting from the discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant, while expressing confidence that Himachal Pradesh will achieve self-reliance in the health and education sectors by the year 2030.