In a move aimed at appeasing government employees ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in November, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced significant increases in Dearness Allowance (DA) and various allowances during the monsoon session of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly. Chief Minister Baghel, who also holds the finance portfolio, unveiled a series of measures during the discussion over the first supplementary budget for 2023-24, amounting to a substantial financial commitment by the state government. The announcements were carefully timed to address the demands of government employees and contractual workers, with an eye on the impending elections. The key highlights of the announcements are a four percent increase in DA for approximately 500,000 government employees, resulting in a total of 42 percent DA, aligning with Central government employees. The State Government will bear an additional expense of Rs 800 crore due to this hike.

 

27 per cent increase in the salary of 37,000 contractual workers, requiring an additional expenditure of Rs 350 crore by State Government. Rs 4,000 raise in the salary of daily wage workers, resulting in an additional expenditure of Rs 240 crore for State Government. The salary of 1,650 guest teachers will be increased by Rs 2,000 per month, leading to an additional expense of Rs 4 crore for the State government. A monthly resource allowance of Rs 500 announced for 6,000 patwaris, costing State Government an additional expenditure of Rs 4 crore. All government employees will be granted HRA as per the 7th pay scale, with 9 per cent for B class cities and 6 percent for C and other cities. The State Government will incur an extra expense of Rs 265 crore due to this allowance. A yearly allowance of Rs 8,000 will be provided to all police constables, entailing an additional cost of Rs 40 crore for State Government. Mitanin trainers, block coordinators, and help desk operators will receive a daily incentive allowance of Rs 100, resulting in an additional expenditure of Rs 11 crore for State Government. Ten thousand Panchayat Secretaries will be granted a monthly allowance ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000. The State government will bear an additional cost of Rs 50 crore for implementing this announcement.

 

They will also enjoy benefits such as earned leave, ex-gratia amount up to Rs 10 lakh, and medical expense reimbursement up to Rs 5 lakh. These measures collectively amount to an expenditure of Rs 1,764 crore by the Chhattisgarh government to implement the announced salary hikes and allowances for government employees. Additionally, Chief Minister Baghel revealed an increase in the maximum aid under the Chief Minister’s Special Health Assistance Scheme (Mukhyamantri Vishesh Swasthya Sahayta Yojana) from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Furthermore, to address the difficulties faced by families in need regarding housing sanction, the Grameen Aawas Nyay Yojana will be launched using state resources. An allocation of Rs 100 crore has been made in the budget for this purpose, as announced by Baghel in the Assembly. These announcements are expected to have a significant impact on government employees, contractual workers, and various beneficiaries across Chhattisgarh, and they are strategically timed to garn