Chandigarh, October 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday announced an interest-free festival advance of Rs 10,000 for state government Group-D employees to help them celebrate Diwali with their families.
In a press statement, Cheema said the state government had earmarked Rs 20 crore for the initiative in the 2026-27 financial year. The scheme covers approximately 34,604 Group-D employees, he said.
The Finance Minister said that if all eligible employees opted for the advance, the total expenditure would amount to around Rs 34.60 crore.
To ensure employees receive the funds ahead of Diwali, which falls on November 8 this year, they can withdraw the advance from the treasury until November 6, 2026, Cheema said.
The amount will be recovered in five equal monthly instalments, with deductions scheduled to begin from employees’ December 2026 salaries.
Cheema said the initiative was part of the Punjab Government’s broader efforts to support the welfare of its workforce. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing financial assistance to employees through the interest-free festival advance.
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