Release of 18 month DA to Central Government Employees withheld during COVID

Government of India

Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure

Rajya Sabha

Unstarred Question No. 689

To be answered on Tuesday, 13th December, 2022 Agrahayana 22, 1944 (Saka)

Release of arrears of Dearness Relief of 18 months to pensioners

689:: Shri Naranbhai J. Rathwa:

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has received several representations regarding the release of arrears of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners of 18 months i.e. from January 2020 to June, 2021;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether Government is sincerely considering the release of 18 months arrears to pensioners, if not, the reasons therefor?

Answer

Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (Shri Pankaj Chaudhary)

(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. Several Representations regarding release of arrears of 18 months of DA/DR payable to Central Government employees/pensioners have been received from. various Central Government employees/pensioners' associations such as National Council (JCM), National Federation of Indian Railway Men (NFIR), All India Railway Men's Federation (AIRF), All India Retired Railway Men's Federation (AIRRF), JCOs/OR Veterans Association (JOVA), Bhartiya Railway Karamchari Union (BRKU), Bhartiya Pension Manch, National Ex-Servicemen Co-ordination Committee and Veteran Association etc.

(c) The decision to freeze three instalments of DA/DR to Central Government employee/pensioners due from 01.01.2020, 01.07.2020 & 01.01.2021 was taken in the context of COVID-19 which caused economic disruption so as to ease pressure on Government finances.

As the adverse financial impact of pandemic in 2020 and the financing of welfare measures taken by Government had a fiscal spill over beyond Financial Year 2020- 21, release of arrears of DA/DR was not considered feasible.

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