In a major policy decision bringing immediate financial relief to government employees, the Chhattisgarh government on Sunday announced a 3 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA), raising it to 58 per cent, at par with the Centre. The announcement was made by Vishnu Deo Sai while addressing the eighth state convention of the State Employees’ Association, a move that is set to benefit lakhs of serving employees and pensioners across the state.
Addressing the convention, the Chief Minister said the state government accords the highest priority to the welfare and economic security of its employees. He noted that extensive discussions were held with representatives of employee organisations, including central employee bodies, during the convention. “After constructive dialogue, the government has decided to bring Chhattisgarh’s dearness allowance in line with the Centre,” Sai said.
The Chief Minister underlined that while several states are yet to match the Central government’s DA rates, Chhattisgarh has taken a timely decision to cushion its workforce against rising inflation. He described the move as part of the government’s broader commitment to responsive and employee-friendly governance.
Sai also assured employees that other long-pending demands would be addressed in a structured manner. He announced the formation of a committee to examine unresolved issues and emphasised that all matters would be taken forward through dialogue and consensus. “The government believes in resolving issues through discussion, not delay,” he said.
The announcement was met with visible enthusiasm among employee unions, whose representatives welcomed the decision as a long-awaited and morale-boosting step. Union leaders said the DA hike reflected the government’s sensitivity towards its workforce and expressed confidence that remaining demands would also be taken up expeditiously.
With this decision, Chhattisgarh joins the list of states that have aligned dearness allowance with the Centre, reinforcing the government’s pro-employee stance and offering tangible relief at a time when inflationary pressures continue to weigh on household budgets.