Tripura Govt revised Festival Advance to Rs. 20,000 for all categories of permanent employees

Tripura Government has revised the Festival Advance to Rs. 20,000 for all categories of permanent employees and DRW staff.

The festival grant of those who are not eligible for festival grant has been increased to Rs. 1200, Finance Minister Jishnu Dev Varma told the media.

Since, the formation of new Government in 2018, it has been focusing on State’s development and the welfare of Government employees.

The State Government in its very first meeting of the Council of Ministers decided to grant pay scale as per the 7th CPC recommendations. Based on the recommendation of the three-member Committee, the multiplication factor for revision of pay was revised upto a maximum of 2.57.

The State Government has also revised the pay of faculty of higher educational institutions and medical college as per the UGC recommended pay scales since 2017. For faculty of diploma level institutions, the pay scale has been allowed from 01-10-2018.

At the time of revision of pay scale of State Government employees, wages of workers engaged under State Government has also been revised w.e.f 01-10-2018 at applicable rates.

At the time of COVID pandemic when DA was frozen to the employees of the Central Government and many other State Governments, the State Government of Tripura granted one installment of DA @ 3% to its employees payable with effect from 01-04-2021. At the same time, the wages of workers engaged in the State Government departments have been also enhanced.

Monthly subscription and insurance coverage of Tripura Government employees have been enhanced.

All this has been achieved, despite financial constraints and less than expected receipt of central share of taxes. Since March 2020, the covid has affected people’s life and their livelihood adversely. To reduce the hardship. imposed by Covid State government sanctioned Rs. 63.19 Cr @ Rs. 1,000/ per NFSA and deserving APL families and also relief food package to NFSA, deserving APL and other 9 (nine) categories of families involving total amount of Rs. 112.77 Cr under Mukhyamantri COVID Special Relief Package and Mukhyamantri Special Relief Food Packet.

The State Government employees especially from the health department, district administration, police to name a few departments have been at the forefront of fighting the covid. State Government employees have rendered exemplary service during covid-19 pandemic by risking their own lives to save others’ lives.

To relieve their hardships in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown during the last financial year, the State Government also allowed cash equivalent of LTC fare to the entitled employees, in lieu of one LTC. State Government employees have availed the benefit.

Now to give boost to the State Economy and give more purchasing power in the hands of state government employees, State Government has decided to enhance the festival advance and festival grant before the upcoming festival season like Durga Puja and Diwali.

As a one-time measure, the State Government has decided to enhance festival advance to Rs. 20,000/ (from existing rate of Rs. 6000/ for Group A. Rs. 5500/ for Group B and Rs. 5000/ for Group C & D) for all categories of permanent employees and DRWs who have been engaged with approval of Finance Department. Now there will not be any difference between any Group of these employees as far as festival advanve is concerned. They all can draw festival advance of upto Rs 20,000 during this financial year. This an increase of advance to almost four (4) times from the previous year.

The State Government has also enhanced festival grant from existing Rs 1000 to Rs. 1200/ for selected categories of employees who are not eligible for Festival Advance, viz. PTW or similar categories of employees who have been engaged with prior concurrence of Finance Department, Anganwadi Workers/Helpers and Home Guards;

Despite having financial constraints, the implementation of this announcement will put in an additional amount of Rs. 186.64 Cr in the pockets of state government employees.

This will give boost to State economy, generate business and thereby bring money in the pockets of workers. This decision, once more shows strong commitment of State government to the employee welfare and economic development of the State.