The long-standing battle for Dearness Allowance (DA) parity in West Bengal is approaching a critical boiling point. As the financial year-end deadline of March 31 draws near, thousands of state government employees are left in a state of confusion regarding the credit of their long-awaited arrears. Despite high expectations, there has been no official confirmation from the state administration, fueling rumors and unrest within the corridors of power.

Employee unions have issued a stern ultimatum to the state government. They have warned that if their “rightful dues” are not credited to their bank accounts within the March 31 deadline, the state will witness a massive administrative shutdown starting in April. The organizations have already outlined a roadmap for a larger-scale “cease-work” agitation and protests that could potentially paralyze the state’s functioning.

While the state government has frequently cited fiscal constraints as the reason for the delay, employees argue that they are being unfairly treated compared to their central counterparts. With just a few days left for the financial year to close, all eyes are on the Finance Department. Will the government release the funds to avert a crisis, or will April 2026 mark the beginning of a historic clash between the state and its workforce?