Decision to hike DA of Assam government employees up to 28%

* Cabinet approves appointment of 8,855 posts in Health Department

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Cabinet today, among other issues, decided to hike the dearness allowance (DA) of the State government employees to 28 per cent from the existing 17 per cent with retrospective effect from July 1, 2021.

The other decisions taken by the Cabinet included appointments in various departments. Finance Minister Ajanta Neog addressed a joint press conference with Health Minister Keshab Mahanta and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika.

Neog said, "At present, the State Government employees are getting dearness allowance (DA) at the rate of 17 per cent of their basic pays. Today, the Cabinet decided to raise the DA to 28 per cent with retrospective effect from July 1, 2021. For this, the State Government will bear an additional expenditure amounting to Rs 200 crore per month.

"The Cabinet has decided to regularize the leave of absence of the government employees who were absent from their headquarters office before March 20, 2020, due to the Covid pandemic. Such officials remained stranded outside Assam due to the lockdown.

"On the promise of providing one lakh job to unemployed youths of the state in one year, so far the Cabinet approved appointment to 52,500 posts in Home, Education and Health departments."

Keshab Mahanta said, "The Cabinet today approved the appointment of 8,855 posts in the Health Department. These posts are of doctors, paramedical staff and technical staff. The process for appointment will start from this September."

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika said, "The Cabinet today decided that the government will impart driving training to 50 youths from each LAC. The total number of such trainees all over the State will be 6,600. The duration of the training is 45 days. The trainees will get driving licences soon after the completion of their training.

"If any of these trained youths want to buy commercial vehicles, the government will extend a subsidy of Rs 1 lakh.

"Enlisted as sub-tribe in the ST, the Cabinet has decided to request the Central Government to replace the word 'Lalung' with 'Tiwa'."

Also Read: Assam annual Budget for fiscal 2021-22 passed in state Assembly

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