Chandigarh, Nov 5: Representatives of state government employees and pensioners have announced a structured, month-long protest program following the recent revision of Dearness Allowance rates in Punjab. The Joint Coordination Committee of Employee and Pensioner Unions declared that the planned public assemblies will cover multiple districts across the state through mid-December.
According to the schedule outlined by union leaders Sukhchain Khera and Gurnam Singh Virk, the first phase will entail a sit-in demonstration at Sangrur running from November 13 to 19. Subsequent outreach activities include localized demonstrations in legislative constituencies between December 1 and 5, culminating in a coordinated public line along the Shambhu-Amritsar corridor on December 13 to demonstrate union solidarity.
State officials had previously stated that the recent three percent DA hike, following an earlier eight percent adjustment, reflects a substantial commitment to public sector welfare involving an additional monthly expenditure of ₹90 crore. Union leadership maintained that dialogue remains open for comprehensive discussions on long-standing service issues, including old pay scale restorations and allowance structure reviews.
