West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced an increase in dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees and raised the monthly honorariums provided to mosque muezzins and Hindu priests, shortly before the Election Commission unveiled the schedule for the upcoming assembly elections.
The announcements were made through posts on X, with the chief minister stating that the state government had fulfilled its commitments to employees and pensioners as well as to teachers, non-teaching staff and workers associated with grant-in-aid institutions such as panchayats, municipal bodies and other local organisations.
Banerjee said that government employees and pensioners would begin receiving arrears related to the ROPA 2009 DA revision from March 2026, based on guidelines to be issued by the state’s finance department.
Although a formal notification from the finance department had not been released immediately after the announcement, Sangrami Joutha Mancha — a collective platform representing state employees, teachers and pensioners — welcomed the decision.
The organisation has been leading protests for nearly three years demanding DA parity with central government employees and has pursued the matter through legal channels. The Supreme Court recently delivered a ruling supporting their demand, stating that the dearness allowance for West Bengal government employees should align with the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission.
Earlier in the day, Banerjee also announced a revision in the monthly honorariums provided to mosque muezzins and Hindu priests. The payments have been increased from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 per month, reflecting a ₹500 rise.
In her statement, the chief minister said the increase recognises the role of religious functionaries in maintaining the social and spiritual life of communities. She also confirmed that new applications submitted by priests and muezzins seeking the honorarium had been approved by the state government.
Banerjee added that the initiative is part of the government’s broader approach to supporting cultural and religious traditions while ensuring recognition for individuals who contribute to community life.
The West Bengal government had earlier introduced financial assistance for Hindu priests in 2020, including a monthly honorarium and housing support. At the time, the policy sparked political debate, with opposition parties including the Congress, Left and BJP accusing the government of introducing the measure ahead of the 2021 assembly elections to influence voter sentiment.
The latest announcements once again come at a politically significant moment, as the state prepares for the next round of assembly elections.