Retired employees demand release of pending 6% DA instalment before Diwali

The Retired Municipal Corporation Employees’ Union of Phagwara has appealed to the Punjab government to release the pending 6 per cent instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) as festive relief before Diwali.

Union vice-president Narendra Dutt Sharma said he has written to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urging immediate action and has also requested Finance Minister Harpal Cheema to intervene.

Sharma highlighted that unlike the Centre and neighbouring state governments, which have been releasing DA instalments to their employees without delay, Punjab has yet to issue any DA payment to serving or retired employees this year. He noted that as per norms, two DA instalments are due annually, but none have been released so far.

Emphasising the financial dependency of retired employees on pensions and allowances, Sharma called for timely DA payment, describing it as a much-needed gift during the festive season.