Bhubaneswar, Oct. 10 -- The Government of Odisha recently decided to release the increased Dearness Allowance (DA) to its employees that would give additional amount of 11% of their basic pay and increase the DA to 28% of their pay. In a separate order, the state government also decided to release additional Dearness Relief (DR) to the pensioners raising the DR to 28% from 17% of the basic pension.

Local print media have reported this decision as Puja Gift to the government employees. This merits some discussion. Gift to a government servant is regulated by the conduct rules of the government employees. As a general rule, gift is considered as an unmerited favour to the government employee.

In the festive atmosphere before or during fes...