Punjab govt announces 40% DA hike for 6,507 computer teachers, regularises 1,007 Samagra Shiksha employees

The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government on Friday announced a 40 per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) for 6,507 computer teachers under the PICTES scheme and regularised the services of 1,007 non-teaching employees working under Samagra Shiksha.

The DA for computer teachers has been increased from 181 per cent to 221 per cent, according to an official statement. The government has also decided to extend salary-related benefits to the regularised Samagra Shiksha employees.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, the Punjab Government has announced a major benefit for its employees. The government has approved a historic 40% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for 6,507 Computer Teachers (PICTES), taking it from 181% to 221%.”

“The state government has also regularised the services of 1,007 non-teaching employees working under Samagra Shiksha. This decision will provide greater stability and security to these employees,” he said.

The chief minister said the government has decided to extend salary-related benefits to these employees as part of its commitment to their welfare.

“No stone is being left unturned by the state government to ensure the welfare and well-being of its employees. We are committed to providing them with a secure future and ensuring that they receive the benefits they deserve,” Mann said.

The announcement came on the occasion of Diwali. Extending greetings to the people of Punjab, the chief minister said, “May this festival of lights bring happiness, progress and prosperity to every household across Punjab.”

Earlier, the Punjab government had announced a separate 3 per cent increase in DA for state government employees and dearness relief (DR) for pensioners as a Diwali gift.

The revision raised the DA rate from 50 per cent to 53 per cent, benefiting nearly eight lakh employees and pensioners across the state.

The revised DA and DR will come into effect from November 1, with the increased amount reflected in salaries and pensions paid in December.

Mann had said the latest revision takes the total DA increase announced by his government since coming to power in 2022 to 25 percentage points. At the time, state government employees were receiving DA at the rate of 28 per cent.