A wave of dismay has spread among government employees, teachers, and pensioners in Tripura following Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha’s announcement of a 3% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR). The decision, made in the state assembly last night, has fallen far short of expectations, with many anticipating a double-digit increase in line with the approaching deadline set by the 16th Finance Commission.
The commission has directed that no reimbursement of DA and DR expenses will be allowed beyond October 31. This deadline had raised hopes of a significant sanction, but the state government restricted the hike to 3%, citing financial constraints. Officials indicated that the state exchequer would be unable to bear additional costs until March 31 next year, while the commission’s awards will only take effect from April 1, 2026–2027.
With this decision, Tripura’s employees will now receive 36% DA, still significantly behind their counterparts in central government service who currently draw 58%. The gap of 22% remains unchanged, continuing a long-standing disparity between state and central benefits.
Interestingly, of the 36% DA currently sanctioned, 33% has been approved during Chief Minister Manik Saha’s tenure of over three years. This marks a notable contrast with the Left Front’s 25-year rule between 1993 and 2017, during which employees received 268% DA in total. Since the BJP came to power in the state, employees, teachers, and pensioners have been sanctioned only 36% in more than seven years.
Former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb had increased the factor point in basic pay from 2.25% under the Left Front to 2.57%. However, allowances tied to the basic pay were not revised to match the levels provided by the Centre, leaving employees dissatisfied with the overall benefits.
Leaders of employees’ associations have openly criticized the latest announcement. They argue that if the 22% gap is not neutralized before October 31, the pending DA and DR arrears will be permanently lost as per the finance commission’s guidelines. Many associations have called for the immediate release of the outstanding DA and DR to bring state employees on par with their central counterparts.