A major gift from the Hemant government ahead of Diwali: honorarium for contractual employees increased by 20%
Ranchi. The Hemant Soren-led government of Jharkhand has provided significant relief to thousands of contractual employees ahead of Diwali. The state government has approved a 20 percent increase in the monthly honorarium for field-level officers and staff working under the ‘Viksit Bharat-G Ram Ji’ scheme. This decision was reached during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, following a proposal submitted by the Rural Development Department. The move will benefit Block Program Officers, Technical Assistants, Computer Assistants, Accounts Assistants, and Gram Rozgar Sevaks. The increase in honorarium is determined based on the employees’ work experience. As a result of this government decision, employees in various roles will receive an additional monthly amount ranging from ₹2,200 to ₹4,740.
Hemant Cabinet approves 20 percent hike in honorarium
In a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the Jharkhand government approved a key proposal concerning contractual employees.
The Rural Development Department had proposed an increase in the honorarium for field-level officers and staff employed on a contractual basis under the ‘Viksit Bharat-G Ram Ji’ scheme.
Following concurrence from the Finance Department, the Council of Ministers granted approval for a 20 percent increase in the honorarium.
This decision will benefit contractual employees across six job categories. Separate honorarium structures have been defined based on whether an employee has less than five years of work experience, or five years or more.
How much has each employee’s honorarium increased? See the full list
According to the new rates approved by the government, the increase in the employees’ remuneration will be as follows: Position and Experience | Previous Honorarium | New Honorarium
Block Program Officer (less than 5 years) | ₹23,140 | ₹27,768
Block Program Officer (5 years or more) | ₹23,700 | ₹28,440
Technical Assistant, AE level (less than 5 years) | ₹22,000 | ₹26,400
Technical Assistant, AE level (5 years or more) | ₹22,500 | ₹27,000
Technical Assistant, JE level (less than 5 years) | ₹19,000 | ₹22,800
Technical Assistant, JE level (5 years or more) | ₹19,500 | ₹23,400
Computer Assistant (less than 5 years) | ₹14,300 | ₹17,160
Computer Assistant (5 years or more) | ₹14,800 | ₹17,760
Accounts Assistant (less than 5 years) | ₹14,300 | ₹17,160
Accounts Assistant (5 years or more) | ₹14,800 | ₹17,760
Gram Rozgar Sevak (less than 5 years) | ₹11,000 | ₹13,200
Gram Rozgar Sevak (5 years or more) | ₹12,000 | ₹14,400
All amounts are on a monthly basis. AE = Assistant Engineer equivalent; JE = Junior Engineer equivalent. Source: Published revised honorarium details.
Block Program Officers to now receive an honorarium of up to ₹28,440.
The government’s decision will result in the largest monthly increase for Block Program Officers.
The honorarium for Block Program Officers with less than five years of experience has been increased from ₹23,140 to ₹27,768—an additional ₹4,628 per month. Meanwhile, the honorarium for Block Program Officers with five or more years of experience has been increased from ₹23,700 to ₹28,440.
Employees in this category will receive an additional benefit of ₹4,740 per month.
This increase is expected to provide financial relief to staff involved in the implementation of schemes and administrative tasks at the block level.
Technical Assistants will also benefit from the increased honorarium.
The government has also raised the honorarium for both categories of Technical Assistants.
Technical Assistants working at a level equivalent to Assistant Engineers will now receive a monthly honorarium ranging from ₹26,400 to ₹27,000.
Similarly, the honorarium for Technical Assistants working at a level equivalent to Junior Engineers has been increased to a range of ₹22,800 to ₹23,400.
Technical Assistants play a crucial role in the implementation of rural development schemes, technical inspections, and construction-related activities.
This increase in honorarium will provide financial benefits to these employees.
Increase in honorarium for Computer and Accounts Assistants as well.
The monthly honorarium for Computer Assistants and Accounts Assistants working under the ‘Viksit Bharat-G Ram Ji’ scheme has also been increased.
Employees in both categories with less than five years of experience, who previously received ₹14,300, will now receive ₹17,160.
Meanwhile, employees with five or more years of experience will now receive ₹17,760 per month, up from their previous honorarium of ₹14,800.
Consequently, these employees will receive an additional amount ranging from ₹2,860 to ₹2,960 per month.
A 20 percent increase in the honorarium for Gram Rozgar Sevaks.
Gram Rozgar Sevaks will also benefit from this government decision. The monthly honorarium for Gram Rozgar Sevaks (village employment assistants) with less than five years of experience has been increased from ₹11,000 to ₹13,200.
Meanwhile, those with five years or more of experience will now receive ₹14,400 per month, up from ₹12,000.
Consequently, Gram Rozgar Sevaks will see an additional monthly benefit ranging from ₹2,200 to ₹2,400.
Gram Rozgar Sevaks play a crucial role in the implementation of employment-related tasks and schemes at the village level.
What did Rural Development Minister Deepika Pandey Singh say?
Rural Development Minister Deepika Pandey Singh has welcomed the government’s decision.
She stated that the Department of Rural Development had long been in favor of increasing the honorarium for contractual staff.
Following the receipt of consent from the Finance Department, the Cabinet has approved the proposal.
According to the Minister, the employees were deserving of this increase. The Department of Rural Development had sought a larger hike in the honorarium, but the Finance Department did not agree to the more extensive proposal.