Agartala, September 23: The Tripura government on Wednesday announced an enhanced Durga Puja grant for employees, pensioners and other categories of workers, while setting aside Rs 183.87 crore for festival advances, Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy said.
Addressing a press conference at the Civil Secretariat, Singha Roy said the annual festival grant had been increased by Rs 300 for several categories, benefiting 1,48,501 employees and 85,916 pensioners.
Group C and Group D employees will now receive Rs 2,400 each, compared with Rs 2,100 last year. Daily-rated workers (DRWs) will also be paid Rs 2,400.
For part-time workers (PTWs) and contractual employees, the grant has been raised from Rs 2,310 to Rs 2,610. Pensioners will receive Rs 2,400, against Rs 2,100 earlier.
Anganwadi workers, helpers and home guards will be entitled to Rs 2,610, while temple purohits will receive Rs 2,400, up from Rs 2,100.
The grant for pump operators has been increased from Rs 1,050 to Rs 1,350. Part-time workers engaged under the Rural Development and Panchayat departments will also receive Rs 1,350.
The state government will spend around Rs 47.16 crore on the festival grant this year. The latest hike will add approximately Rs 6 crore to the expenditure, the minister said.
Singha Roy said the festival grant, which was Rs 700 in 2017-18, had been revised upward at different intervals.
He added that employees from Christian and other religious communities could avail themselves of the grant during their respective festivals, subject to the condition that it could be claimed only once a year.
On festival advances, the minister said Rs 183.87 crore had been allocated under the scheme. Group A, Group B, Group C fixed-pay and regular employees, Group D regular employees and DRWs are eligible for an advance of Rs 20,000.
Home guards and Anganwadi workers will receive Rs 5,000 as festival advance, while ASHA workers are eligible for Rs 2,000.
The Finance Department had already issued a memorandum on the festival advance on September 21, Singha Roy said.
Finance Department Secretary P K Goyal and Additional Secretary Akinchan Sarkar were present at the press conference.
The minister said the financial provisions were announced in preparation for Durga Puja, which is scheduled to be celebrated on October 15.
