Bhopal, March 23 (NationPress) The government of Madhya Pradesh has sanctioned a 3% increase in the dearness allowance (DA) for state employees and pensioners, elevating the total to 58% effective from July 1, 2025. This decision, made by the Council of Ministers, aligns the state’s DA with the Central government's rate as per the 7th Pay Commission, aiming to provide essential relief in light of escalating living expenses.

The updated DA will positively impact lakhs of government employees who receive salaries as per the 7th Pay Commission. The Finance Department has been instructed to implement proportional increases for personnel under the 6th Pay Commission and for those on older pay scales (5th and 4th) from corporations, boards, or undertakings.

For pensioners and family pensioners, the dearness relief has been fixed at 58% under the 7th Pay Commission and 257% under the 6th Pay Commission, effective from January 1, 2026, following approval of a related letter from the Chhattisgarh government, as stated in a press release.

Arrears accumulated from July 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, will be disbursed in six equal installments—with the first payment scheduled for May 2026, followed by subsequent payments in June, July, August, September, and October. For those retiring or passing away between January 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, the arrears will be issued as a lump sum to the employee or their designated nominee.

Additionally, the Madhya Pradesh Council of Ministers has approved a monthly honorarium of Rs 18,000 for guest teachers in institutions managed by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. This decision standardizes their remuneration with that of Guest Teachers (Class 1) in the School Education Department, assuring equitable pay for educators in the disability sector. This measure acknowledges their significant role in special education and promotes inclusive teaching practices statewide.

In another welfare initiative, the daily per-beneficiary allocation for supplementary nutritional food at Anganwadi centres has been increased for severely underweight (SUW) children aged six months to six years. The allocation has been raised from Rs 8 to Rs 12 across all operational centres, aligning with the recent increase by the Government of India.

The Cabinet has also approved several development and continuation proposals totaling Rs 6,940 crore. This includes the extension of nine schemes under the Commercial Tax Department from 2026–27 to 2030–31, with Rs 2,933 crore allocated for rural housing and transport infrastructure, Rs 37 crore for maintaining the Commercial Tax Tribunal and its assets, and Rs 162 crore for IT and establishment expenses.

Under the Public Works Department, 17 schemes have been continued for the same duration, with Rs 691 crore earmarked for the construction of the ministry building, Legislative Assembly complex, and legislators’ rest houses; Rs 731 crore for government residential quarters, State Guest House, and office buildings; Rs 565 crore for project implementation units; and Rs 379 crore for capital project establishment costs.

Furthermore, the Tribal Affairs Department has received Rs 102 crore for three schemes aimed at promoting Scheduled Tribe culture, research, training, and development through 2030–31.