MP & Secretary, National Council requests PM to reconsider DA freeze

CPI Rajya Sabha member Binoy Viswam has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the decision of freezing the dearness allowance and dearness relief. He said that the dearness allowance (DA) stems from the need to protect the erosion in the real value of basic salary on account of inflation and thereby provides employees with the ability to deal with the ever-increasing inflation in the country, even in their retirement. He mentioned that the employees who have retired/retiring w.e.f. 01/01/2020 are not getting the benefit of the DA increase in their terminal benefits, such as leave encashment, gratuity etc. He has asked the government to freeze the 3 instalments of DA due for the employees and the pensioners and release the same to them at the earliest  

The copy of the letter is reproduced below.

Binoy Viswam
Member of Parliament
(Rajya Sabha)

116, North Avenue
New Delhi – 110 001
Mob: 96057667022
E-mail: binoyviswam55@gmail.com

To
   Shri Narendra Modi
   Prime Minister
   Government of India,
   New Delhi. Date: 10.01.2021

Respected Shri Narendra Modi Ji,

I write to bring to your attention a matter affecting the rights and entitlements of Central Government employees in light of actions taken by the Finance Ministry. Deviating from the decision of the Cabinet to release 4% additional Dearness Allowance (DA) in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Finance on 23rd April 2020 issued an order for freezing of DA to the central govt. employees and DR to the pensioners till July 2021. Effectively, these actions, amidst a pandemic, have subjected the Central Govt. employees and pensioners to undue financial hardship.

Successive Central Pay Commissions have dealt in detail about the payment of DA to the Central Govt. employees and its importance to the working conditions of Central Govt. Employees. The decision by the Finance Ministry is in complete disregard to the rights of these workers and the reasons for the grant of such an allowance by the Cabinet. The dearness allowance (DA) stems from the need to protect the erosion in the real value of basic salary on account of inflation and thereby provides employees with the ability to deal with the ever-increasing inflation in the country, even in their retirement. The Covid-19 pandemic has taken an unbearable toll on the lives of all people and while many have been able to avoid the pandemic at its deadliest, Central Govt. Employees have worked tirelessly to keep the country moving and their service.

In view of the above, I request you to kindly intervene in the matter and reconsider the decision, since the employees who have retired/retiring w.e.f. 01/01/2020 are not getting the benefit of the DA increase in their terminal benefits, such as leave encashment, gratuity etc. I once again request you to withdraw the decision taken by the Government to freeze the 3 instalments of DA due for the employees and the pensioners and release the same to them at the earliest. The Government must ensure that its employees are treated with dignity and their rights are not compromised due to governmental apathy.

Yours sincerely

Binoy Viswam
Leader of CPI Parliamentary Party &
Secretary, National Council