West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today fulfilled a key promise to state employees, pensioners, and lakhs of educators by greenlighting payments of long-pending ROPA 2009 Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears starting March 2026. The disbursals, detailed in recent Finance Department notifications, extend to teachers, non-teaching staff, and personnel from grant-in-aid institutions including panchayats, municipalities, and local bodies under the Ma-Mati-Manush administration.
I am happy to announce that our Ma-Mati-Manush government has delivered on its promise to all its employees and pensioners, and to lakhs of teachers and non-teaching staff of our educational institutions, as well as employees/ pensioners of our other grant-in-aid instititions…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 15, 2026
In a parallel move underscoring the government’s commitment to cultural custodians, Banerjee approved a ₹500 monthly honorarium hike for purohits and muezzins, raising it to ₹2,000 per month. All pending fresh applications from these community spiritual leaders have received state approval, fostering an inclusive environment where diverse traditions thrive.
“We take pride in nurturing every community and strengthening our spiritual heritage,” Banerjee emphasized, highlighting support for those sustaining Bengal’s social fabric.
I am pleased to announce an increase of ₹500 in the monthly honorariums extended to our purohits and muezzins, whose service sustains the spiritual and social life of our communities. With this revision, they will now receive ₹2,000 per month.
At the same time, all fresh…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 15, 2026
This announcement, timed ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, addresses Supreme Court directives on DA arrears while reinforcing the Trinamool Congress’s welfare agenda.


