Kerala teachers, pensioners to get a big DA, DR hike; check the new rates and dates

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Friday announced an increase in the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for teaching staff and pensioners under the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and medical education schemes.

According to the state finance department, the DA rate for teaching staff under these schemes, who moved to the revised pay scale from January 2016 or later, will be raised from 42 per cent to 46 per cent.

What are the new DA rates?

The government also said that teaching staff under the UGC, AICTE, and medical education schemes who continue in the sixth pay scale effective from January 2006 or later will see their DA rate increase from 221 percent to 230 percent.

Additionally, the DR rate for UGC pensioners and family pensioners whose pension was revised under the 2020 government order will also be increased from 42 percent to 46 percent.

For UGC pensioners and family pensioners whose pensions were not revised as per the 2020 order, the DR rate will rise from 221 percent to 230 percent, the order said.

When will the enhanced rates take effect?

The finance department said the enhanced DA will be payable with the salary due for October 2025, while the increased DR will apply with the pension due for November 2025.

It also clarified that the “enhanced rate of DA is applicable, subject to the availability of funds, to grant-in-aid institutions, and others, where UGC, AICTE, and medical education schemes have been implemented through government orders.”

Similarly, “the increased DR rate is applicable only to institutions, including universities, where statutory pension is followed as per government order,” it said.

What about state government employees and others?

On Thursday, the finance department had ordered an enhancement in DA and DR for state government employees, teachers, staff of aided schools, private colleges, polytechnics, full-time contingent employees, and employees of local bodies.

The DA and DR for these groups were raised from 18 percent to 22 percent.

“The additional expenditure on this account in respect of local governments will be met by them from their own funds,” the order said.

The department also noted that the enhanced DA rate will apply to part-time teachers and part-time contingent employees based on their pay, as well as to re-employed pensioners.

Who else will benefit from the hike?

Employees and pensioners of state Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), statutory corporations, autonomous bodies, boards, and grant-in-aid institutions that follow the state DA-DR pattern will also be eligible for the revised rates.

This will, however, depend on certain conditions, such as approval by their governing bodies if they can meet the additional expenditure from their own funds.

If these organisations cannot meet the expenses from their own resources, they must seek prior government approval, the department said.

“Organisations where more than 90 percent of the salary or pension expenses are met through Plan or Non-Plan grants from the government can release DA and DR without prior government approval, provided they secure approval from their board of directors, governing body, managing committee, or executive committee,” the order stated.

Which organisations are excluded?

The finance department clarified that the DA and DR hike will not apply to organisations such as Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, which have been instructed to issue separate orders.

“Such organisations should follow the existing practice, including obtaining prior government approval where required, while sanctioning DA and DR to their employees and pensioners,” it added.

PTI inputs