50% DA Merger – A Sad End to A Demand...!

50% DA Merger – A Sad End to A Demand...!

On 01.01.2011, DEARNESS ALLOWANCE crossed 50%. It started from '0' in 2006 and, within 5 years, i.e., in 10 instalments, it has completed 50%. 

The second instalment in 2010 touched two-digits for the first time. Since the last two instalments too were of ten percent each, the Dearness Allowance easily touched 100% in six instalments.

Ever since the DEARNESS ALLOWANCE crossed 50%, the demand for 50% DA MERGER began.

Since 2012, questions regarding this were raised in the Parliament a number of times, but the Government chose to reject all of them. 

When all FEDERATIONS made this their most important demand, it was included in the CHARTER OF DEMANDS. As a result, without any distinction, all the employees are very much eager to see the outcome. They began to calculate the financial benefits that result when 50% DEARNESS ALLOWANCE gets added to the basic salary. In addition to these, an online calculator too was launched. 

All the unions and federations began exerting pressure on the Government. Protests were announced. Decisions were made to hold strikes and strike notices were issued to the Government. The CONFEDERATION created a record of sorts by conducting 2-day long strike. 

There were constant reports that Federation leaders had been raising the demands with the Government during various levels of talks. When some of the Federations issued strike notices, the Government invited them for talks and the proposed strike was withdrawn. This further strengthened hopes.

Although no official announcements were made, the federation leadership said that the Government had given implied consent to the demand. Everyone thought their mission was accomplished successfully. 

All the newspapers were ready to print headlines announcing a 30% hike in basic pay for Central Government employees. 

Since this was the last Cabinet meeting of this Government, there was no dearth of excitement and expectations. During the cabinet meeting that began on February 28, 2014, the Government announced a 10% hike in DA. But, in a hurry to beat competition, leading news channels began running news scrolls that the Government had given 'Merger of 50% DA' with basic pay. It was only after 30 minutes that the channels realized their mistake and corrected the scroll headline to 'Hike in DA by 10%'. 

But, by then, it had created endless confusion. 

One can say that there would have been no Central Government employee who didn’t get upset that day. So high were their hopes. But, all their hopes were crushed when the news turned out to be false. 

The demand for 50% DA Merger met with a sad end...!

Source: 90Paisa Blog