The Finance Department of the Union Territory Government issued orders for payment of several Central Allowances to the UT employees which were not applicable to them earlier including grant of Children Education Allowance, Hostel Subsidy, Transport Allowance, Special Allowance for Child Care for Women with Disabilities and incentives for acquiring fresh higher qualification. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had few days back accorded approval to grant of Central Allowances to the Government employees of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which were not applicable here. The MHA will bear an estimated cost of Rs 4800 crore annually for releasing these Central Allowances in favour of Jammu and Kashmir Government employees. Official orders issued by the Finance Department today said the amount for reimbursement of Children Education Allowance will be Rs 2250 per month (fixed) per child. However, the reimbursement of Children Education Allowance/ Hostel subsidy can be claimed only for the two eldest surviving children with the exception in case the second child birth results in twins/multiple birth. The amount of ceiling of hostel subsidy has been fixed at Rs 6750 per month. Reimbursement of Children Education Allowance for ‘Divyaang’ (disabled persons) children of Government employees will be payable at double the normal prescribed rates i.e. Rs 4500 per month (fixed). According to the Government order, the rates/ceiling would be automatically raised by 25 percent every time the Dearness Allowance on the revised pay structure goes up by 50 percent. The Hostel Subsidy and Children Education Allowance can be claimed concurrently. In case, both the spouses are Government servants, only one of them can avail reimbursement. Reimbursement of CEA and Hostel Subsidy will be applicable for children from Nursery class to 12th. The Union Territory Government has also granted Transport Allowance to the employees. Employees in the Pay Level of 9 and above and posted in the cities will get Transport Allowance of Rs 7200 plus DA per month while those posted at other places (not City) will get Rs 3600 plus DA. Employees in the Pay Level 3 and above but below Level 9 and posted in the cities will get Rs 3600 plus DA while those posted at other places will get Rs 1800 plus DA. Similarly, the employees up to Level 2 and posted within cities will get Rs 1350 plus DA and those posted at other places will get Rs 900 plus DA. The Finance Department has also approved grant of Special Allowance for Child Care for Women with disabilities. “Women with disabilities will be paid Rs 3000 per month as Special Allowance for Child Care from the time of the child’s birth till he/she attains the age of two years. It will be payable for maximum of two eldest surviving children. However, the disability will mean a person having minimum disability of 40 percent,’’ the Government order said. The Government has also approved grant of incentive for acquiring fresh higher qualification by a Government employee in the fields that are directly relevant to the job of the employee. The employees will be paid lump-sum amount of Rs 30,000 for Ph.D or equivalent, Rs 25,000 for PG degree/diploma of duration more than one year or equivalent, Rs 20,000 for PG degree/diploma of duration one year of less or equivalent, Rs 15,000 for degree/diploma of duration more than three years or equivalent and Rs 10,000 for degree/diploma of duration three years or less or equivalant.
