Punjab government hikes dearness allowance of its employees by 7 per cent

The Punjab government on Wednesday hiked the dearness allowance (DA) of its employees and pensioners by seven per cent, in a bid to woo the voters right ahead of crucial state Assembly polls in 2017.

State Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said this increase would be effective from January 1, 2017.

The DA would increase from 125 to 132 per cent after this comes into effect, he said.