West Bengal witnessed partial disruption of government services today as several organisations of state government employees observed a strike, demanding payment of pending Dearness Allowance arrears in line with the recent order of the Supreme Court. Several employees’ organisations, including the Sangrami Joutha Manch, the Joutha Manch and the Sarkari Karmachari Parishad, had called for this strike today. Government employees, including staff from various departments, assembled in different districts to support the strike. Demonstrations and protest rallies were reported in several parts of the state, including the capital Kolkata, where employees raised slogans demanding immediate implementation of the court’s directive on DA payment.

 

The protesting employees alleged that despite the court’s ruling recognising DA as a legitimate entitlement of government staff, the state government has not yet taken steps to release the arrears. They also expressed strong objections to the state government’s reported move to approach the court seeking exemption from paying arrears to certain categories of employees, including teachers and staff of panchayats and municipalities.