Agartala: Nov 07: Former Chief Minister and CPI(M) Politburo member Manik Sarkar criticized the current BJP-led government in Tripura for the disparity in dearness allowance (DA) between central and state government employees. Speaking to the media, Sarkar expressed concerns about the 23% gap in DA, which he attributed to the weaknesses and failures of the present government. He highlighted that this issue was a direct result of the government’s mismanagement and inability to address the needs of state employees.
Sarkar noted that during the Left Front government’s tenure, state government employees were provided with dearness allowances twice a year, with the goal of matching the DA levels of central government employees. This initiative was part of the government’s broader effort to ensure fair and equitable treatment for state employees, in line with their counterparts in the central government. However, he pointed out that this practice has been discontinued under the current administration.
The former chief minister emphasized that despite the presence of a BJP-led coalition government in Tripura, state employees are facing financial deprivation. The 23% disparity in DA between central and state employees is a clear indication of the government’s failure to protect the interests of the working class, he said.
Sarkar’s statement came in the context of the government’s recent 5% DA increase for state employees, which he criticized as insufficient and far below the level of compensation received by their central counterparts. He called this disparity a reflection of the government’s inability to provide adequate financial support to state employees, ultimately undermining their welfare. Sarkar’s remarks reflect ongoing concerns about the BJP government’s approach to addressing the needs of public sector workers in Tripura.
