Imphal, July 26: The payment of Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief to the State Government employees, pensioners and family pensioners has been revised with effect from July 1, 2008 .

According to an office memorandum issued by Principal Secretary (Finance) AN Jha Dearness Allowance/ Dearness Relief payable to the State Government employees/ pensioners and family pensioners has been enhanced from the existing rate of 35 percent to 47 percent with effect from July 1, 2008 .

The office memorandum further explained that the term 'pay' for the purpose of calculation of Dearness Allowance shall be pay drawn in the prescribed scale of pay including stagnation increment and Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA), but shall not include any other type (s) of pay like Special Pay (since suspended), Personal pay, etc.

However, with effect from December 1, 2007, Dearness Allowance/ Dearness Relief is computed on the basis of basic pay/pension, dearness pay/ pension, stagnation increment and NPA.

In case of Medical and Veterinary doctors (including Homeopathy and Nature Cure), the limit of pay plus DA and NPA as laid down in the Government office memorandum of even number dated 25.09.2007 shall still hold good, the office memorandum said, adding that in case of those who opt to retain the existing scale of pay (pre-revised) it will include, in addition to pay in the pre-revised scale, Dearness Allowance and Interim Relief appropriate to that pay admissible under order in existence as on January 1, 1996 .

Furthermore, the Dearness Allowance will continue to be a distinct element of remuneration and will not be treated as pay within the ambit of FR-21, the office memorandum said, adding that payment on account of Dearness Allowance/ Dearness Relief involving a fraction of 50 paise and above shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee and the fraction less than 50 paise shall be ignored.

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