Sikkim Government Raises Pay and Pension Benefits

Gangtok: Sikkim state workers and pensioners just got a raise. The Finance Department issued a circular on October 1 confirming an increase in Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief effective January 1. Roughly 50,000 people stand to gain from this move.

For staff on the pre-revised pay scale, the rate jumps from 257 percent to 262 percent. Those on the revised structure see their rate climb from 58 percent to 60 percent. This policy covers state government employees, contractual workers, and personnel in work-charged establishments.

All India Service officers also receive the boost. The circular states, "amounts involving a fraction of 50 paise or more would be rounded off to the next higher rupee, while fractions below 50 paise would be ignored."

Officers on the Sixth Central Pay Commission scale move to 262 percent. Those following the Seventh Central Pay Commission recommendations shift to 60 percent. The state keeps its accounts tight with these rounding rules.