Thane civic body to pay Rs 25,000 Diwali ex gratia to each employee, Rs 6,000 to Asha workers

Thane Municipal Corporation employees have good news ahead of Diwali. Mayor Sharmila Pimpolkar announced on Friday that permanent officers and employees, contract staff and employees of the transport service will each receive an ex gratia payment of Rs 25,000 this time. Asha workers will also get Rs 6,000 each as a Diwali gift.

According to the information given by Pimpolkar, the corporation has 6,662 permanent and contract employees. Adding 1,285 employees of the transport service, a total of 7,947 employees will get Rs 25,000 each. The 673 Asha workers working in the corporation area will get a special gift of Rs 6,000 each.

The corporation pays an ex gratia amount to employees every year at Diwali to give them financial relief. This year the amount has been raised to Rs 25,000. The decision will put an additional burden of Rs 20.11 crore on the corporation's coffers. It has been stated that the decision was taken so that employees get help at the festival and have a good Diwali.

A special meeting was held in the corporation on the payment, after discussions with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Deputy Mayor Krishna Patil, House Leader Hanmant Jagdale, leaders of all parties and Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao were present. The amount was fixed after the discussion at the meeting.

The payment has risen steadily over the past few years. Employees received Rs 15,500 in the financial year 2020-21. The amount then increased to Rs 24,500 in 2024-25. Now, in 2026, it has been decided to give employees Rs 25,000.

The corporation administration has been instructed to deposit the amount in employees' bank accounts before Diwali. This is expected to ensure employees have money in time for festival shopping. The amount can be used for household goods, festive food, clothes and other Diwali expenses.