Gujarat : The Central Government has decided to increase the dearness allowance by giving Diwali gifts to the central government employees. This decision of the Union Cabinet will be benefited to about 50 lakh serving employees. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has announced this. Apart from the employees, about 62 lakh retired employees will also get the benefit of this announcement. With this, DA has increased from 12% to 17%. With this announcement of the Center, the exchequer will incur a burden of Rs 16 thousand crore. Apart from this, the central government has doubled the honorarium of ASHA workers. Where previously they used to get one thousand rupees, now they will get two thousand rupees. Asha workers are mainly women, who provide health services to people in rural areas. This allowance will be applicable from July 2019. Javadekar said that the government has taken this step following the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission.