Mamata Banerjee raises monthly honorarium for priests, muezzins by Rs 500 ahead of EC’s poll schedule announcement | India News

New Delhi: Chief Minister of Bengal Mamata Banerjee West Bengal on Sunday announced a Rs 500 hike in monthly stipends for priests and muezzins, hours before the Election Commission announced the dates for assembly polls in four poll-bound states and the union territory of Puducherry. He also announced the approval of all new applications by the AITC-led state government.The announcement came ahead of the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, which comes into force after the announcement of the election schedule and which will prevent the government from making new policy announcements or financial promises that could influence voters.In a post on X, Banerjee said the state government has decided to increase the monthly honorarium for priests (priests) and muezzins by Rs 500.“I am pleased to announce an increase of Rs 500 in the monthly honorarium of our priests and muezzins, whose services sustain the spiritual and social life of our communities. With this amendment, they will now receive Rs 2,000 per month.At the same time, all new applications duly submitted by priests and muezzins have also been approved by the state government”, the West Bengal Chief Minister wrote in a post on X.With the amendment, the monthly payment for both groups will increase by Rs 2,000. The Chief Minister also added that all new applications submitted by priests and muezzins seeking honor have been approved by the state government.Banerjee said the move reflects the government’s commitment to recognize the role religious activists have played in society.“We are proud to foster an environment where every community and every tradition is valued and strengthened,” he wrote, adding that the government’s efforts to ensure that those who preserve the spiritual heritage of the state receive due recognition and support”, he wrote.In a separate post, Mamata Banerjee announced that the West Bengal government will start disbursing dearness allowance (DA) arrears under ROPA 2009 to employees and pensioners from March 2026. In a post on X, the West Bengal chief minister said the decision fulfills the state government’s promise to its employees as well as workers of educational and other grant-in-aid institutions. “I am happy to announce that our Ma-Moti-Manush government has fulfilled its promise to all its employees and pensioners and lakhs of teaching and non-teaching staff in our educational institutions, as well as employees/pensioners of our other grant-in-aid institutions like panchayats, municipalities, other local bodies, etc.,” he wrote. He added that payments will start from next month in line with the procedure notified by the state finance department. “They will start receiving their ROPA 2009 DA dues from March 2026 as detailed in the notification issued by our Finance Department.”The announcements came moments before the poll panel headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and comprising Election Commissioner Sukbir Singh Sandhu and Election Commissioners. conscience Joshi is expected to announce the schedule for assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala. Assam and Puducherry at a press conference in New Delhi at 4 pm.