Punjab government workers plan rally in CM Mann's Dhuri constituency over DA order

The Sanjha Mulazim Manch, representing 153 Punjab government employee unions, announced a rally in Dhuri, the home constituency of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, for Oct. 10 to seek details on an 8% dearness allowance (DA) accrual ordered on Sep. 23. Officials estimate the measure will add ₹231 crore to monthly expenditures. Union officials claim the order does not specify the payment start date and ignores arrears from two pending instalments dating back to July 2023 and Jan. 2024.

They will hold district-level meetings on Sep. 30 and a large rally in Sangrur district on Oct. 10. The move follows a Sep. 18 discussion with Mann, where the government offered two 4% instalments and pledged to address other demands in early October. Employees also demanded advance notice of any future meetings and insisted that previously announced programmes not be delayed. The protest has been ongoing since August, after a failed meeting in Jalandhar where Mann asked workers to resume duties before talks could continue.