Supreme Court's DA order jolts Mamata's government

SC's DA arrears order may strain Bengal's finances, threatening key welfare schemes before elections.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

Friday's Supreme Court Division Bench order, asking the West Bengal government to pay 25% of the Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears to its employees within three months, could deliver a crushing blow to Mamata Banerjee's politics of dole.

According to the state's lead advocate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, the total DA arrears the state is liable to pay amounts to a "back-breaking Rs 40,000 crore." Therefore, the state must pay Rs 10,000 crore by August—a daunting task for a debt-ridden state like West Bengal.

Since Banerjee ousted the Left Front in 2011, a range of welfare schemes has played a significant role in ensuring her government's return in election after election, despite allegations and evidence of widespread corruption against her party members.

"A rough estimate by the Finance Department suggests that the state government will have to spend more than Rs 10,000 crore to clear 25% of the due DA for employees. Since this expenditure was unexpected, it will definitely affect the state government's welfare schemes, for which Rs 66,300 crore has been allocated in the 2025-26 financial year," said a bureaucrat.

This situation could hinder plans to enhance the benefits under Lakshmir Bhandar, a scheme under which 1.2 crore women, aged 25 to 60, receive Rs 1,000 or Rs 1,200 per month (for SC and ST women). This programme has played a key role in securing votes for the Trinamool Congress.

"There was also a plan to enhance the benefits ahead of the polls, as this scheme has given rich dividends to the ruling party in consecutive elections. However, the government may have to rethink this as it has already spent more than Rs 26,000 crore under the scheme," said an official.