Madhya Pradesh on Thursday announced a hike of 10 per cent in dearness allowance (DA).

   The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved a hike in the Dearness Allowance for all employees of the State government and local bodies.

   The DA has been hiked from 80 to 90 per cent of the basic salary. The double digit hike comes less than a week after the Centre announced a 10 per cent hike for its employees. Timed before the model code of conduct for elections comes into force, the DA would be paid retrospectively from July 1.

   The BJP government of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Thursday announced a hike of 10 per cent in dearness allowance (DA).

   The decision comes as a bonanza for a large number of employees and pensioners ahead of the festive season.

   "The decision to hike 10 per cent DA of state government employees and pensioners was taken by the cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan," Public Relations and Culture Minister Laxmikant Sharma said.

   With this 10 per cent hike, the total DA component will be 90 per cent of the basic salary, he said, adding that it would be paid with effect from July 1, 2013.

   The DA of Madhya Pradesh government employees will now be almost at par with their Central government counterparts.

Source:PTI