M A I N   N E W S

5 pc hike in DA for Punjab staff

Chandigarh, October 10
As a Divali bonanza to its employees, the Punjab Government has hiked dearness allowance (DA) for them by 5 per cent from July 1 this year on the Union Government pattern. DA has now been enhanced from 24 per cent to 29 per cent. Mr Surinder Singla, Finance Minister, Punjab, said the arrears of DA from July to September this year would be paid in cash to the employees. He, however, said that from October onwards the enhanced DA would be added to the salaries of the employees. The Finance Minister said that with the enhancement of DA, the liability on the state exchequer till the end of the financial year would be Rs 112.59 crores while the annual liability would be Rs 168.88 crore. — TNS