Kolkata, March 15 – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced two key measures on Sunday, clearing arrears in salaries for state employees and increasing honorariums for priests and muezzins, just minutes before the scheduled announcement of the state assembly elections.
Banerjee made the announcement about the increase in honorariums for Hindu and Muslim priests on X at 2:40 pm, 80 minutes before the Election Commission's planned press conference at 4 pm to announce the election schedule for five states. She also announced the clearance of salary arrears at 3:05 pm, 55 minutes before the EC event.
The announcement confirmed an increase of Rs 500 per month in honorariums for priests and muezzins across Bengal, with beneficiaries now expected to receive Rs 2,000 per month after the revision.
Addressing state government employees and pensioners, including teachers, non-teaching staff, and workers of grant-in-aid institutions, Banerjee said that the salary arrears would be cleared starting March this year.
"They will start receiving their arrears from ROPA 2009 from March 2026 onwards, as detailed in notifications from our finance department," Banerjee said on X.
The arrears relate to the Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) 2009, a long-standing demand of government employees and pensioners, covering salaries and allowances for teachers, municipal and panchayat staff, and other grant-in-aid institutions.
A section of state government employees had filed petitions in tribunals, the Calcutta High Court, and finally, the Supreme Court, demanding the clearance of salary dues.
The Supreme Court order, directing the release of 25 per cent of the salary arrears by March 31, 2026, covers arrears from 2009 to 2019 and is expected to benefit approximately 12 lakh current and retired employees.
However, despite the ruling, a 40 per cent gap persists in salaries between state and central government employees.
It is estimated that the disbursement would cost the state exchequer around Rs 25,000 crore.
A section of state government employees had moved the Supreme Court, demanding the clearance of salary dues. The Supreme Court ordered the release of 25 per cent of the salary arrears by March 31, 2026.
Alleging that the state government was delaying the payment, a group of protesting government employees, the Sangrami Joutha Mancha, held a day-long cease-work agitation on March 13 to pressure the TMC administration to pay the salary arrears in accordance with the Supreme Court orders.
Forum leader Bhaskar Ghosh called the announcement a "result of sustained pressure created by the protesting state employees from a non-partisan platform".
"The CM never showed a positive will to listen to our demands in the last three years. She made this announcement shortly before the election announcement because our successful strike two days ago proved that we have gained widespread influence among the government employees, which carried ominous signals for the chief minister," he said.
Calling Banerjee's DA announcement a "joke" and a "classic TMC election drama", BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari criticized the TMC supremo for "suddenly remembering" the state's employees "just minutes before the Election Commission announces poll dates".
"ROPA 2009 DA arrears "from March 2026 onwards? After years of looting the state treasury and cheating them blind, this is your desperate last-minute poll gimmick?" Adhikari said on X.
"Not a single paisa will actually be released. Zero accountability, zero funds, zero delivery - only empty notifications from your Finance Department to fool the People one last time," he added.
The Mamata Banerjee government had introduced monthly allowance schemes for imams (Muslim clerics) and muezzins in 2012, a year after assuming state power, and followed it up with an announcement of financial assistance for Hindu priests in 2020, a move the TMC said was aimed at supporting those engaged in religious and community services.
"I am pleased to announce an increase of Rs 500 in the monthly honorarium extended to our priests and muezzins, whose service sustains the spiritual and social life of our communities. With this revision, they will now receive Rs 2,000 per month," she said in her Sunday's X post.
The chief minister said the state government has approved all fresh applications submitted by priests and muezzins for the honorarium.
"At the same time, all fresh applications that have been duly submitted by priests and muezzins have also been approved by the state government," Banerjee said.
Highlighting the government's stance on religious harmony and support for traditional institutions, she added, "We take pride in nurturing an environment where every community and tradition is valued and strengthened. Our endeavour remains to ensure that the custodians of our rich spiritual heritage receive the recognition and support they deserve."
Asked about Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s announcements made shortly before the Election Commission’s poll schedule, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said any move by governments prior to the announcement of polls is their prerogative.
"The model code of conduct comes into effect after the announcement of polls and not before," he added.