VMC DA Arrears Delay Sparks Concern

KUMAR CHAND P
Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) employees are continuing to wait anxiously for the release of long-pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears, as administrative delays within the civic body have triggered widespread dissatisfaction among staff. Despite multiple government orders and repeated instructions, the process of clearing arrears has reportedly remained stalled for several years.
According to reliable information, DA arrears amounting to nearly eight instalments between 2019 and 2025 have not been processed through the VMC system. While salaries of employees have been routed through the treasury system since April 2019 under the 010 head, the arrear bills linked to DA revisions have allegedly not been prepared or forwarded by the civic accounts wing.
Employees claim that had the bills been processed in time, contributions under the CPS (Contributory Pension Scheme) would have been credited partly into PRAN accounts, while OPS (Old Pension System) beneficiaries would have received full PF-related adjustments. However, due to non-processing of bills, both CPS and OPS employees are said to have been left in uncertainty regarding their rightful dues.
Sources indicate that around 27 months of arrears linked to government orders issued during different DA revisions (GO Nos. 14, 94 and 51) remain unpaid. Employees recruited between 2004 and 2019 are also reportedly affected, with CPS deductions made from salaries not fully reflected in PRAN accounts in earlier years.
Despite representations made by employees to senior officials, including discussions with the VMC Commissioner, no concrete progress has been reported. Although an inquiry was once directed through an Assistant Commissioner, employees say it has not yielded results.
Meanwhile, an official from the accounts section cited financial constraints and procedural delays, stating that funds are not available and that arrears can only be processed once collections improve or government reimbursements are received.
A circular issued earlier this year also failed to produce any action, adding to employee frustration. Nearly four months have passed since the directive, but no visible movement has taken place.
Employees are now questioning the prolonged delay and seeking clarity on when the DA arrears will finally be released. With mounting pressure from staff, attention is now on higher authorities to intervene and resolve the issue at the earliest.