The State government employees have heaved a sign of relief as the government finally increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) from the existing 15 per cent to 21 per cent, which will be in effect from January 2014.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, General Secretary of Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association (KSGEA), B M Patel Pandu, said: “We have received a government order on April 8 informing us about the hike.

All full-time government employees, employees of Zilla Panchayats, pensioners/family pensioners, work charged employees on regular scales of pay, full-time employees of aided educational institutions and universities who are on regular scales of pay will be benefited.”

The KSGEA, in the first week of March, had staged a protest seeking an increase in the DA and had also submitted memoranda to government authorities along with their other demands.

Welcoming the move, U D Narasimhaiah, president, Karnataka State Government Employees’ Federation, said “There are over six lakh government employees and around four lakh pensioners. In total, 10 lakh people will benefit.

As the model code of conduct is in force, the Finance department had to take permission from the State Election Commission for passing the order. The latter in turn took the permission from Central Election Commission. Finally, the order was issued on April 8.”