West Bengal cabinet approves remuneration hike of over one lakh staff

Kolkata:The West Bengal government has decided to enhance the remuneration of a range of employees and contractual staff, benefiting around one lakh people, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Monday.

Addressing the media after chairing a cabinet meeting here, he also said a bill facilitating the inter-university transfer of both teaching and non-teaching staff will be presented in the assembly during a one-day special sitting on September 10.

"Fourteen groups of employees will benefit from the increase in remuneration, which were not taken up in the state budget for 2026-27," Adhikari said.

"The state will incur an additional expenditure of Rs 390 crore per annum for this purpose, benefiting more than one lakh people," he said, adding that the government felt their demands for a remuneration hike justifiable.

The chief minister said the remuneration of forest officials, from deputy rangers to forest guards, was raised by Rs 5,000 effective October 1.

He said around 1,500 forest volunteers would also receive a Rs 2,000-per month enhancement to their honorarium.

Adhikari said the medical allowance of former MLAs was also raised from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 with effect from August 1.

West Bengal Assembly MLAs, who have started Netaji Seva Kendras in their constituencies, would get Rs 30,000 per month to operate these, he said.

The CM had recently directed MLAs to establish these public service centres, named after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, across constituencies.

Adhikari also said the remuneration of 20,343 primary and upper primary school-level para teachers and ‘Shiksha Bandhus’ would be increased by Rs 5,000 per month with effect from November 1.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PTI

[email protected]