Election conduct threat over dearness allowance dues

State government employees are currently getting 39 per cent less DA compared to central government employees, says a leader of the joint forum

TT  |   Calcutta   |   15.02.23  : The joint forum of several state government employees’ unions, which seeks dearness allowance on a par with their central government counterparts, has written to the Election Commission of India that state government employees would not take part in conducting elections till their demand is met.

In its letter addressed to the chief electoral officer, West Bengal, the forum said none of its 35 associations of employees, including doctors and school teachers, would take part in future elections until their due DA is released.

“The state government employees are currently getting 39 per cent less DA compared to the central government employees. Until our DA is matched with the central government employees, we will take part in holding future polls,” said a leader of the joint forum.

The forum, which is carrying out agitations demanding due DA for the past two weeks and observed pen-downs a couple of times, appears to be intensifying its movement against the state government.

“We will send a similar letter to the state election commission too,” said a leader.

About 4 lakh to 5 lakh employees are needed to conduct elections, particularly elections to the three-tier panchayat polls. As panchayat polls could be held in May, the agitation by the employees could leave the authorities in trouble.

“They can be forced to conduct polls as their service rules clearly state they cannot disobey any order from the poll panels. But the ruling party will prefer employees hold the polls without grudge against the ruling establishment as they play a crucial role in rural polls,” said a source.

Sources in the government said the government was not in a position to release due DA to employees due to financial constraints.

“This is why the state government has moved to the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court verdict which went in favour of the employees. The matter could be heard in March and everything depends on the SC verdict,” said a bureaucrat.