Punjab Government Employees Hold Mega Rally in Dhuri Over Pending DAਮਹਿੰਗਾਈ ਭੱਤੇ 'ਤੇ ਧੂਰੀ 'ਚ ਮੁਲਾਜ਼ਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਰੈਲੀ

Over 150 unions of Punjab government employees and pensioners are gathering in Dhuri, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's own assembly constituency, on Saturday for a mega rally demanding clarity on the state's September 23 Dearness Allowance order and a timeline for clearing long-pending DA instalments. The Sanjha Mulazim Manch, the joint front organising the rally, says the 8% DA hike announced last month settles nothing — the question of arrears remains wide open.

Why are the employees rallying in Dhuri?

The choice of venue is deliberate: Dhuri in Sangrur district is Mann's constituency, and Sangrur is widely seen as his political base. The Manch says the September 23 order, which raised DA by 8% in two 4% instalments, gives no details on arrears and may delink the state's DA from the central pattern. The issue affects around 8 lakh employees and pensioners.

Some reports put the joint front even wider — between 200 and 250 employee and pensioner unions are expected to take part, led by figures such as Satish Rana, Gurnam Singh Virk and Sukhchain Singh Khaira.

What the 8% DA order says — and why it isn't enough

After meeting representatives of employee and pensioner organisations on September 18, Mann announced the 8% hike, taking DA from 42% to 50% with effect from September 1, to be reflected in October salaries. Around 8 lakh people stand to benefit.

The unions, however, point out that three instalments were pending and only one — due since July 2023 — had been announced. They claim Punjab's employees get around 16% less DA than their counterparts in neighbouring states. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier directed the state to release pending DA instalments, a direction the government has challenged in the Supreme Court.

Politics enters the agitation

The agitation has now taken a political turn. The Indian Witness reported this week that unions plan to activate district-level political wings and discuss a collective electoral strategy ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with leader Sukhchain Singh Khaira saying employees could collectively decide their voting strategy. The unions have also warned of a possible maha bandh if their demands remain unresolved.

The BJP has moved to claim the momentum. Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon said on Friday that the 8% DA grant was the “first victory of the employees' sustained struggle” and demanded that the government clear 60% DA arrears in line with the central pattern at the earliest.

When and where is the employee rally?

The mega rally is being held on Saturday, October 10, in Dhuri in Sangrur district — Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's own assembly constituency.

What are the employees demanding?

Clarity on the September 23 DA order, a timeline for clearing pending DA instalments, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, regularisation of contractual employees, and minimum wages for mid-day meal, ASHA and Anganwadi workers.

Has the government responded?

Chief Minister Mann announced an 8% DA hike after meeting union representatives on September 18 and framed it as a resolution through dialogue. The state has also challenged the High Court's DA directions in the Supreme Court. The unions say this is not enough and are going ahead with the rally.