Rapidly rising inflation has completely changed the monthly budget plans of central government employees and pensioners. Be it kitchen expenses, children’s education, house rent or treatment, every essential need has now become more expensive than before. It is becoming difficult for common salaried families to save. In such a situation, big expectations have been attached to the 8th Pay Commission.
Meanwhile, Federation of National Postal Organizations FNPO has raised an important demand. The organization has written a letter to Commission Chairperson Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai asking that 50 percent dearness allowance (DA) be added to the basic salary. They argue that this will provide immediate relief to employees and pensioners.
Why did this demand arise?
The government gives dearness allowance so that the impact of rising prices is less on the income of the employees. But in the last few years, DA has been continuously increasing and has reached 50 percent. Employees’ organizations say that when DA reaches such a high level, it means that the basic salary is no longer in line with the current cost of living.
According to FNPO, there have been occasions in the past also when DA went above 50 percent and was added to the basic pay. This gave a new basis to the salary structure and further increases took place in a more practical manner. The organization believes that now the situation has become the same again and the time has come to repeat the same steps.
Demand to implement from January 1, 2026
FNPO has suggested that from January 1, 2026, 50 percent DA should be merged into basic pay and pension. He says that it may take time for the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission to come. In such a situation, this can be an interim measure to provide relief to the employees till then.
What will be the benefit of this?
If 50 percent DA is added to the basic, its effect will not be limited to just the monthly salary. Allowances like House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Transport Allowance are also decided on the basis of basic pay, so they will also increase. This decision may prove to be even more important for pensioners, because pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits are also linked to the basic salary. That means, with DA merger, future financial security will also be strengthened.
What do employees expect from the 8th Pay Commission?
Middle class working people say that the increase in their income is not keeping pace with the pace of inflation. Daily needs are becoming expensive, but salaries are not increasing in the same proportion. In such a situation, the 8th Pay Commission has become not just a formal process but a hope of relief for millions of families.
Now the focus is on what stance the government takes on this demand. If 50 percent DA is merged into basic, it will be considered a big relief for employees and pensioners. At present, everyone’s eyes are on the next announcement of the 8th Pay Commission.
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