Thiruvananthapuram: The state govt has announced an Onam bonus of Rs 4,500 and special festival allowance for govt employees, those part of aided educational institutions and pensioners. Govt has also sanctioned an advance of up to Rs 20,000 for employees.According to orders issued by the finance department, employees covered under the 11th Pay Revision whose total salary as on March 31, 2026, was up to Rs 49,275, and those covered under the 10th Pay Revision with a salary of up to Rs 44,462, will receive an Onam bonus of Rs 4,500.Employees who were in service as on March 31, 2026, and had completed at least six months of continuous service will generally qualify for the bonus. Those who retired or were relieved from service on or before March 31 will also be eligible if they had completed the required period of service.Employees who do not qualify for the bonus will receive a special festival allowance of Rs 3,000. An allowance of Rs 1,460 has been sanctioned for several categories, including eligible daily-wage workers, certain contract workers and SC/ST promoters. ASHAs, anganwadi and balawadi teachers and workers, anganwadi helpers and ayahs, palliative care nurses and certain other categories will receive Rs 1,450.School counsellors will receive Rs 1,390, while several other categories, including MLA additional staff and certain honorary teachers, will get Rs 1,350. Pensioners will receive a special festival allowance of Rs 1,250.An employee will be eligible for only one of the two benefits — the bonus or the special festival allowance. The state govt has directed that the bonus and special festival allowance should be drawn and disbursed by March 31, 2027. Distribution will begin from Aug 17, 2026.Onam advance up to Rs 20,000The state govt has also sanctioned an Onam advance of up to Rs 20,000 for employees and the personal staff of the ministers from Aug 20. Employees requiring a lower amount can avail themselves of the advance in multiples of Rs 1,000. The amount will be recovered from salaries in five equal monthly instalments from Oct 2026.
