Delhi Govt Hikes DSDMA Staff Honorarium By Up To 100% After 16 Years

Jagran Correspondent, New Delhi: After 16 years, the Delhi government has approved a hike of up to 100 percent in the honorarium of Project Officers (POs), District Project Officers (DPOs), and Project Coordinators working under the Delhi State Disaster Management Authority (DSDMA).

Announcing the decision on Sunday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the honorarium of these personnel is being revised for the first time since 2009. The government said the move would provide long-overdue financial relief to disaster management personnel who have been serving on fixed honorariums for years while strengthening the capital's disaster management framework.

The honorarium structure was introduced in 2009 under a programme supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Since then, it had remained unchanged despite rising inflation and a steady increase in the responsibilities of disaster management personnel.

Under the existing structure, Project Officers and District Project Officers have been receiving a monthly honorarium of Rs 25,000, while Project Coordinators have been paid Rs 20,000 per month.

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With the latest revision, the honorarium for Project Officers and District Project Officers is expected to double to around Rs 50,000 per month, while Project Coordinators are likely to receive approximately Rs 40,000 per month. The government said the revised structure provides an increase of up to 100 percent across these categories.

According to the government, Delhi's honorarium for comparable positions has remained significantly lower than that offered in states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. It added that performance-based annual increments, medical benefits, capacity-building initiatives, and other employee welfare measures would also be considered in the future.

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The government clarified that the revision is not an ex gratia payment but a step towards ensuring fair remuneration in line with the responsibilities, experience, and technical expertise required for these posts.

Officials of the DSDMA play a key role in the city's disaster preparedness and response. Their responsibilities include preparing district disaster management plans, conducting risk and vulnerability assessments, coordinating with multiple departments, operating Emergency Operation Centres, overseeing relief and rescue operations, conducting training programmes, and organising mock drills.