DA Row: Protestors call 'No work' in Govt offices across Bengal on 20 and 21 Feb

The West Bengal government is facing a major challenge as government employees are protesting the delay in the payment of their Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears. The employees have been protesting outside government offices for the past four days, demanding the full payment of their DA.

The government's recent announcement of a three percent hike in DA has not been accepted by the employees' union, who say that it falls 32 percent below the central scale. The announcement was made during the state budget 2023-24 presentation by state Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya.

The Sangrami Youth Forum has announced a two-day strike on 20 and 21 February, during which all government offices in the state will remain closed. The employees' union has also threatened to boycott the upcoming Panchayat elections if their demand for full DA payment is not met. The High Court has ruled in favor of the employees, stating that DA is their right and should be paid, but the state government has continued to delay payment.

The state government is facing a difficult situation as the strike and protests could disrupt the functioning of government offices, affecting public services. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to the employees' demands and resolve the ongoing crisis. The employees are determined to continue their agitation until their demands are met, and the government will have to find a way to address their concerns to avoid further disruption.