Kolkata, Aug 28 (IANS) The West Bengal government on Friday announced a new relocation allowance formula for state government employees transferred from one corner of the state to another.
Announcing this in a social media statement, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the new relocation allowance formula, technically termed as “Composite Transfer and Packing Grant”, would replace the decades-old relocation allowance system for state government employees.
According to him, under the new relocation formula, financial relief would be provided as a lump-sum grant of a maximum of Rs 50,000 or 80 per cent of the basic pay, whichever is less. Employees concerned would not have to furnish any receipt to receive the relocation allowance amount.
In his statement, the Chief Minister detailed the coverage of the new relocation allowance formula. He said those transferred 30 kilometres or more from their current place of posting would be entitled to the full amount of the proposed relocation allowance. In comparison, those transferred below 30 kilometres would be entitled to one-third of the amount.
The Chief Minister added that the new relocation formula would also be extended to retiring employees who move to their native places following retirement.
“West Bengal Government remains steadfast in its commitment to the welfare and well-being of our dedicated State Government Employees, who work tirelessly to serve the people of West Bengal. I am pleased to share that the State Cabinet has approved the introduction of a simplified and enhanced Composite Transfer and Packing Grant, replacing the decades-old Transfer Grant and Packing Allowance system,” Adhikari said.
The decision has been welcomed by state government employees, especially those on the verge of retirement. They claimed that the previous relocation allowance was so paltry that it did not even cover a small portion of the relocation cost.
–IANS
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