The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) or SUCI(C) staged a rally in Kolkata from Raja Subodh Mullick Square to R R Avenue this afternoon, demanding the immediate disbursal of DA for government employees. It was held by the SUCI(C)’s Joint Movement Forum which includes the Paschimbanga Sarkari Karmachari Union, Bangiya Prathamik Shiksha Association, West Bengal Primary Teachers’ Association, Service Doctors Forum, Nurse Unity, and the Calcutta University Employees Union.
Currently, state government employees receive 18 per cent DA following a 4 per cent hike announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her Budget speech earlier this year. In contrast, the central government employees receive 55 per cent DA.
A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta issued an interim order on May 16 this year, while hearing the state government’s appeal against a 2022 Calcutta High Court ruling. The High Court had directed West Bengal to align its DA disbursement with Central government rates. The Supreme Court’s interim relief applies to DA dues accumulated between 2009 and 2019 and is expected to benefit nearly 10 lakh state government employees. The Court stipulated a deadline of within six weeks of the order.
The protestors demanded the immediate payment of 25 per cent of the outstanding DAs, as directed by the Supreme Court, and the reinstatement of “untainted” teachers from the SSC recruitment process in 2016, submitting their deputation to the authorities.
“The Government’s main aim is privatisation of the education policies and the way they are encouraging it is leading to the destruction of jobs. The Supreme Court specified that interim relief would apply to DA arrears accumulated between 2009 and 2019, which would benefit nearly 10 lakh state government employees,” said Nilkanta Ghosh, General Secretary, Secondary Teachers and Employees’ Association (STEA).
Subhashish Das, leader of the Paschim Banga Sarkari Karmachari Union, said, “I believe, after a legal war of 11 years, we believe that we should be given the entire pending DA and not just 25 per cent. Additionally, employees do not get their deserved salaries. I believe that if the Government abides by all the rules and guidelines, they should be able to clear up all the DAs pending. The MLAs and all other senior members of the State Government are increasing their salaries instead of giving salaries to the employees.”
“Owing to the last 10 years of protest for its timely payment, DA has become one of the basic rights of the employees. The Government should pay heed to the Supreme Court’s order to release at least 25 per cent of the amount due to all the employees instead of wasting public money on court trials,” said Sampa Pal, a Panchayat employee.