Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a 4% hike in dearness allowance (DA) for the state government employees and pensioners, effective from January 1, 2024. The move ahead of Bohag Bihu, one of the biggest festivals in the state.

"To make Bohag Bihu more cheerful, we have decided to hike Dearness Allowance (DA) by 4% which will benefit about 4 lakh Assam Government employees and around 3.5 lakh pensioners", Chief Minister Biswa Sarma posted on X (formerly Twitter). "With this hike, DA of all State Govt employees have reached 50%." The move will have implications worth Rs 1,175 crore for the state government.

This augmentation raises the total DA to 50 percent for government workers in the state; the government intends to disburse the amount in installments, with the first arrear expected in May, followed by June and July.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister unveiled plans to recruit Grade IV employees in local villages to serve lower Primary, Middle English, and Higher Secondary schools emphasizing "merit-based selection."

Additionally, the government has also introduced incentives to promote the adoption of solar panels, offering special discounts and supplementary benefits for journalists.

ALSO READ: Tata Sons' semiconductor hub in Assam to generate over 27,000 jobs