Kolkata, June 1 (PTI) Leaders of the Joint Struggle Forum of State Government Employees on Monday said West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured them during a meeting that the BJP dispensation would implement the apex court’s directions on payment of pending dearness allowance.
In February, the Supreme Court observed that dearness allowance was a legally enforceable right and directed the West Bengal government to pay it to its employees for the period from 2008 to 2019.
The meeting between the chief minister and representatives of the forum was held at the secretariat on Monday and lasted around one and a half hours.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the forum’s convenor, Bhaskar Ghosh, said the organisation was satisfied with the outcome of the discussions.
On recruitment, he said the state government would announce a policy for filling up vacant posts by June 7. “The chief minister has told us that at least 50,000 appointments will be made by December this year.” “He has assured us that the Supreme Court’s order on DA dues will be implemented in letter and spirit. He has also assured payment of 25 per cent of the arrears in compliance with the court’s directions,” Ghosh said.
According to him, Adhikari has directed the chief secretary and the finance secretary to initiate the process for the implementation of the top court order.
“There was some difference of opinion regarding the percentage of arrears. The chief minister has assured us that further discussions will be held on the issue,” he said.
Ghosh also said that Adhikari promised a gradual reduction of the gap between the DA received by employees of the Central government and that of the state.
“The chief minister has assured us that the DA gap with the Centre will be bridged in phases. We expect a major announcement on this issue in the state budget on June 22,” he said.
Employee representatives said that Central government staffers receive DA at a rate of 60 per cent, while West Bengal government employees receive 18 per cent, leaving a gap of 42 percentage points between the two.
The forum’s leader further said that Adhikari had committed to implementing the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations by January next year.
Issues relating to pay disparities among state government employees, including temporary staff, were also discussed during the meeting, he added.
“The chief minister himself proposed that regular meetings be held between the state government and employees’ organisations. A framework for such consultations is being worked out,” Ghosh said.
“We assured the chief minister of our full cooperation in building a corruption-free administration,” he added.
The Bengal chief minister also assured the forum leaders about the reinstatement of employees who had been suspended for participating in agitation programmes, according to Ghosh. PTI SCH NSD
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