UP government increases HRA by 20 per cent

New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday took several important decision, including a 20 per cent increase in house rent allowance (HRA) of government employees and purchase of khadi clothes by government departments and institutions.

The cabinet approved a proposal to hike HRA by 20 per cent for all categories of employees which would benefit more than 14.5 lakh employees and teachers and create an additional annual burden of Rs 500 crore on the state exchequre.

The decision will be applicable from August 1.

In a bid to provide employment to weavers, the cabinet approved a proposal to purchase 11 types of khadi cloths from Shri Gandhi Ashram and UP Handicraft Development and Distribution Corporation by all the government departments, enterprises, corporations and authorities.

The cabinet also relaxed norms for distributing free battery operated e-rickshaws to women drivers and priority would be given to women suffering from domestic violence, acid attack victims, weak and destitutes.