CHENNAI: In a pre-festive benefit ahead of Deepavali, Tamil Nadu chief minister Joseph Vijay on Saturday announced a 3% point hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for state govt employees, teachers and pensioners.The hike will be effective retrospectively from July 1 this year, taking the DA from 60% to 63%.The revision brings the state govt’s DA payouts in line with the recent increase sanctioned for central govt employees.According to an official release, nearly 16 lakh serving employees, school teachers, pensioners and family pensioners across the state will benefit from the hike.The additional financial burden on the state exchequer is estimated at Rs 1,858 crore annually.Crediting govt employees for driving the state’s welfare delivery mechanisms, Vijay said the administration had prioritised their financial well-being despite the strain on state finances.
