New Delhi, March 15
The Cabinet today approved the release of an additional instalment of dearness allowance (DA) to Central government employees and dearness relief to pensioners, from January 1, 2007, in cash at the rate of 6 per cent over the existing rate of 29 pc.

Minister for information and broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said the rate of DA and relief would be 35 per cent for all Central employees and pensioners and family pensioners of the Central Government, constituting increase of 6 per cent over the existing rate of 29 per cent.

Dasmunsi said the additional financial implications on account of this increase of DA had been estimated at Rs 2,265.12 crore per annum and Rs 2,642.64 crore in the financial year 2007-08 (for a period of 14 months from January, 2007, to February, 2008).

The additional financial implications on account of this increase of dearness relief to pensioners had been estimated at Rs 1,079.08 crore per annum and Rs 1,257.78 crore in the financial year 2007-08.