The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a Diwali bonus of Rs 29,000 for its officers and employees in 2024, as reported by NDTV. This decision was made following discussions between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Municipal Commissioner, responding to demands from various worker and employee unions within the BMC.

The new bonus amount represents an increase from last year’s Rs 26,000, reflecting the BMC's commitment to support its workforce during the festive season. In addition to the Diwali bonus, the BMC has also allocated Rs 12,000 for Community Health Volunteers and Rs 5,000 for Anganwadi teachers and assistants as part of their Bhau Bheej Gift initiative.

Eligible employees include BMC officers, aided private primary school teachers, non-teaching staff, and primary school education officers, alongside secondary school teachers and non-teaching staff from both aided and unaided schools. Additionally, teachers and non-teaching staff at colleges, as well as college education officers, will also benefit from the Diwali bonus.

This announcement coincides with the anticipation surrounding the central government employees' request for an increase in their dearness allowance, with unions expecting at least a 3% hike for both employees and pensioners.

The timing of the BMC's announcement is notable, as it occurred just minutes before the Election Commission of India disclosed that the Maharashtra assembly election will take place in a single phase on November 20.

In a related development, the central government recently approved a performance-linked bonus scheme for railway employees, totaling Rs 2,029 crore. This bonus, which is equivalent to 78 days' wages, will be distributed among 11.72 lakh employees before the Durga Puja or Dussehra holidays, benefitting a range of staff categories including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers, and other Group C personnel.