Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced a three per cent hike in the dearness allowance for the state government employees under the 7th Pay Commission.
The DA hike will be given retrospectively from January 1, 2022, he said, adding that the move will benefit 9.38 lakh employees of the state government, panchayat service and pensioners.
The state government’s financial burden will go up by about Rs 1,400 crore annually, the CM said speaking after hoisting the national flag at Modasa in Aravalli district during a state-level function to mark the country’s 76th Independence Day.
Patel appealed to people to awaken the spirit of national interest in their hearts above everything.
He also announced the expansion of the one-kg gram (pulses) per card per family scheme for the NFSA card holders, and widening the income limit eligibility criteria for inclusion of beneficiaries under the Act.
The Chief Minister said 71 lakh National Food Security Act (NFSA) card holders from all 250 talukas of the state will be given one kg gram (pulses) per card per month at a concessional rate. At present, only the people from 50 developing talukas are getting benefit of the scheme.
The existing eligibility criteria of income limit per month for inclusion under the NFSA has been increased to Rs 15,000 from Rs 10,000, he said.
“It is our responsibility to keep reaching new heights of safety and peace in a peaceful, developing and safe Gujarat and establish new records of all-inclusive development. Let us take a pledge to make this festival of Independence as the opportunity to make national interest as paramount in our hearts and minds,” he said.
Patel further said electric buses will be put into operation on iconic routes like Dwarka, Ambaji and Statue of Unity, and Rs 367 crore will be invested to run 1,200 new BS-6 compliant buses for providing better services to citizens.
Also, ATMs will be installed at 50 bus stations of the state for the convenience of citizens, he said.
