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Kerala Government Employees have not yet received DA and other Arrears


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Kerala: During a session at the Assembly, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal addressed concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan regarding the arrears of benefits owed to government employees and pensioners. Satheesan emphasized the injustice faced by these individuals, as the government had been withholding the arrears from the last pay revision and other benefits owed to them.

According to Satheesan, the government owes ₹15,000 crore in dearness allowance arrears for 39 months, as well as ₹14,000 crore in leave surrender benefits for the past five years. Additionally, the pay revision arrears amount to ₹6,000 crore, bringing the total arrears owed to government employees, teachers, and pensioners to a staggering ₹42,000 crore. Satheesan also highlighted the unfortunate fact that nearly one lakh pensioners had passed away while awaiting these benefits.

In response, Balagopal clarified that the government had placed restrictions on the leave surrender benefits due to the financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he assured that these restrictions did not imply a complete denial of the benefits. The government had to implement measures to overcome the financial difficulties it faced.

Balagopal further explained that the restrictions only applied to certain categories of employees, and exemptions were granted to last-grade employees and part-time contingent employees. In terms of revised pension arrears, three out of four installments had been given, with only ₹600 crore remaining as arrears.

Regarding the pay revision arrears, the government had announced that they would be provided in four installments, which would be merged with the Provident Fund. Balagopal also mentioned the successful implementation of the Medisep program, in which the government collected a monthly premium of ₹500 from beneficiaries. He stated that 97% of claims had been accepted, with the claim amount exceeding the premium collected.

Balagopal defended the government’s actions by comparing Kerala’s response to the pay revision during the COVID-19 pandemic with that of other states. He claimed that very few states had implemented pay revisions, while Kerala had accounted for 60% of all Public Service Commission appointments in the country.

The 11th pay revision had begun on April 1, 2021, leading to an increase in the government’s salary expenditure from ₹1,32,000 crore in the previous year to ₹1,63,000 crore in 2021-22. Balagopal assured that the government had a clear roadmap in place to navigate the financial crisis and that daily expenditures and welfare activities were continuing smoothly.

Balagopal concluded by stating that the government was on the path to financial consolidation, and the financial situation would improve in the near future.

One Comment

  1. No explanation regarding the arrears of ugc 7th pay revision 2016. At least 4 lakh rupees arrear for an entry level employees pending in the period 2016-2019 even after 8 years of pay revision. No value for orders issued in 2019.

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