Shastri demands release of pending DA installment

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 8: Stressing on the need for immediate release of pending installment of 3 percent DA due since July, president of the National Mazdoor Conference (NMC), Subhash Shastri today appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to announce the same to employees and pensioners at the earliest.
Addressing a meeting of NMC workers here, Shastri stated that in view of the inbuilt provisions in the annual budget, there should not be any hitch for the UT Government, more so when others States have already released the 3 percent DA installment since long. An early decision in this regard would be genuine measure to provide some relief to the employees and pensioners, he added.
Recalling recommendations of the Central 7th Pay Commission, Shastri said it also had recommendations that as soon as DA crosses more than 50 percent, the Centre is under an obligation to merge 50 percent DA into basic pay or pension.
“As the DA has already touched 53 percent now, we request for early merger of 50 percent DA into basic pay/pension with retrospective effect,” he added.