Imphal, January 13: Amidst report of the Union Finance Ministry giving its approval to release the monthly entitlement of the State Government and RBI lifting its ban on financial transaction, the State Finance Department has issued circular for implementation of Dearness Allowance (DA) hike.

According to an official source the monthly entitlement amount of Rs 68 crore has been approved by the Ministry.

However the RBI gesture still does not guarantee immediate payment of salaries to Govt employees or release of pension within this month due to technical aspects The Finance Department circular for payment of DA to State Govt employees fixed January 1, 2000 for the revised rates to be effective.

The revised rates will hike the DA from 38 percent to 41 of the pay amount.

The arrears of DA at the mentioned rates from January 1, 2000 till December 31, 2003 shall be deposited with the general provident Fund (GPF) accounts of the employees concerned with withdrawal allowed after two years effective from July 2004 while the revised DA rates would be implemented from January one of the current year.

The enhanced rates of DA will be payable to the employees in cash with effect from January 1, 2004, mentioned the order adding in respect of those employees who have already retired and also those employees who are to retire within six (6) months from the date of the Department memorandum, the arrear of DA shall be paid in cash.

In case of work-charge and ad-hoc employees who are yet to open their GPF accounts separate orders regarding the mode of payment of arrears of DA will be issued in a short time, said the Department circular dated January 7.Assembly meeting: In connection with the seventh session of the 8th Manipur Legislative Assembly starting from February 6, a Business Advisory Committee meeting has been convened on January 22.The Business Advisory Committee session which will begin from 11 am will be presided by the Committee Chairman TN Haokip, who is also the Speaker of the House.

Other members of the Committee are Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Law and Legislative Affairs Minister L Nandakumar, Commerce and Industries Minister Th Debendra Singh, FCS Minister Ph Parijat, RK Dorendra, MPP President O Joy Singh (MLA), Legislature leader of Federal party of Manipur L Nilachandra and Deputy Speaker L Lala.

Duration of the Assembly session and actual day of sittings would be finalized by the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.

Among other important issues legislation to ban strike by Government employees is likely to be tabled during the assembly session to begin with the inaugural speech from the Governor Arvind Dave.

Press sources revealed that Chief Minister O Ibobi has already issued instructions to the Ministers for adequate preparation taking into account issues like law and order likely to be posed from the Opposition bench.

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