Grant of Tough Location Allowance to Central Govt. Employees of Darjeeling

Grant of Tough Location Allowance to Central Govt. Employees of Darjeeling

"Consider grant of any kind of Special Duty Allowance/Tough Location Allowance/High Altitude Allowance as a special case"

Ref: Confdn/Genl/2016-19

Dated : 14.03.2018

To
The Secretary
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi - 110001

Sir,
Sub:  Grant of Tough Location Allowance to Central Govt. Employees of Darjeeling.

This is to bring to your kind notice that Hill Compensatory Allowance (HCA) was being paid till June 2017 to the employees of Darjeeling. Unfortunately HCA has been withdrawan from the month of July 2017 onwards after implementation of 7th CPC Allowance Committee report. However, the neighbouring state, Sikkim is still getting the Special Compensatory Allowance (SCA). It is worth mentioning that Darjeeling and Sikkim share same type of terrain, alongwith climatic conditions. It is further to mention here that the employees of some hill areas viz; Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, comparatively similar to Darjeeling Hills, are enjoying Tough Location Allowance (TLA). But the employees of Darjeeling are deprived of both the Tough Location Allowance (TLA) and Special Compensatory Allowance (SCA).

Darjeeling being the world famous tourist spot and the "Queen of Hills" is one of the expensive place to live in as all the basic commodities are to come from Siliguri, which is a 'Y' category city with 16% HRA. This has led the employees of Darjeeling being economically handicapped with the removal of Hill Compensatory Allowance.

In view of the above, I request you to review the orders withdrawing the Allowance already enjoyed by the employees of Darjeeling, and Consider grant of any kind of Special Duty Allowance/Tough Location Allowance/High Altitude Allowance as a special case, considering the geographical, climatical and economical hardship faced by the employees.

Awaiting response,

Yours faithfully,

(M. Krishnan)

Secretary General

& Member, Standing Committee

National Council (JCM)

Mob: 09447168125

Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Source: Confederation