Nabanna asks departments to submit SOPs to clear pending DA, sets April 13 deadline

The West Bengal government has taken a major step toward clearing pending dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) dues for employees and pensioners. The state’s finance department has directed multiple government departments to submit detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by April 13 to facilitate the release of long-pending payments.

According to officials, the directive covers departments including the Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal, School Education Department, Government of West Bengal, Mass Education Extension and Library Services Department, Government of West Bengal, Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Department, Government of West Bengal, Transport Department, Government of West Bengal, Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department, Government of West Bengal, and Panchayats and Rural Development Department, Government of West Bengal. The move aims to standardise procedures and expedite the settlement of dues.

The state finance authorities have indicated that once the SOPs are submitted, the process of disbursing pending DA and DR will be finalised. The government has also initiated measures to clear dues for family pensioners, with a structured process being implemented to ensure direct transfer of funds to bank accounts.  A digital system is being put in place under the supervision of the Principal Accountant General (Accounts & Entitlement), West Bengal to streamline the verification and payment process. Banks have been instructed to provide updated pensioner information promptly, after which verified payments will be released in phases.