India, Feb. 26 -- Around 1.4 million government employees, waiting from July 2024 for their increased dearness allowance (DA) of 3%, had threatened on Monday to stage a protest on March 6 during the budget session. But after warning letters from several employee associations, the state government on Tuesday finally issued an order to pay the dues totalling more than Rs.1,200 crore in the employees' February salary. 'Approval has been given to pay the increased 3% DA with arrears from the month of July 2024 to government employees in the state,' it said.

In the run-up to the order, the employees had also sought an appointment with finance minister Ajit Pawar and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with a demand to resolve the issue. On Sunda...