Uttarakhand CM Dhami Celebrates Diwali with Festive Welfare Announcements

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami marked Diwali by worshipping and spending time with children in Dehradun, alongside announcing a dearness allowance increase and an ad hoc bonus for state employees. The decision benefits regular employees, UGC officials, judges, and daily wage workers with specific eligibility criteria.

On Tuesday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami celebrated Diwali by performing religious rituals at the BJP state office, honoring Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. Leading BJP officials, including State President Mahendra Bhatt and State General Secretary Ajaey Kumar, joined the celebrations alongside party workers, symbolizing unity and festivity within the party ranks.

Following the celebration, CM Dhami visited Gorakhpur (Doon) on Defence Colony Road in Dehradun, where he celebrated Diwali with local children, distributing gifts and spreading festive cheer. In a significant announcement earlier that day, CM Dhami declared an increase in dearness allowance (DA) and an ad hoc bonus for state government employees, demonstrating his administration's commitment to employee welfare.

As per directives from the Chief Minister, notifications from both the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and the Uttarakhand government confirmed the DA increase for regular full-time employees and UGC-affiliated officials. The move also addressed arrangements for High Court judges and members of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission. The DA arrears for July to September 2024 will be paid in cash, with revised allowances commencing in October. Additionally, non-gazetted employees, educational staff, local bodies, and daily wage workers will receive the ad hoc bonus, subject to eligibility.

The Indian government's guidelines stipulate a maximum 30-day bonus limit of Rs 7,000 for employees with at least six months of service as of March 31, 2024. Employees with service between six months to a year will receive bonuses proportional to their tenure. Meanwhile, daily wage workers meeting specific annual working days criteria over the past three years are entitled to a bonus of Rs 1,184. The order clarifies that employees facing disciplinary or criminal actions are ineligible for bonuses, except when reinstated post-suspension.