TAX REFORM

Govt sets up 'war room' to deal with GST crises

gst-feedback-action A team of tech-savvy young officers will be manning the "war room" to assist officials in resolving their GST-related queries

Equipped with multiple phone lines and computer systems and manned by tech-savvy youngsters, a "mini war room" has been set up in the finance ministry to deal with crises related to the implementation of GST.

The GST Feedback and Action Room, or GST war room as it is being dubbed, is going to be a separate cell that will focus solely on teething issues faced by trade, service providers and manufacturers.

“It will have a dual role to be the listening post for any GST related issues faced and follow up on those. That is why it is not a war room but a Feedback and Action room,” asserted a finance ministry spokesperson.

The GST Feedback and Action room is temporarily housed along with the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) headquarters in North Block. The GST grievance redressal mechanism is likely to be monitored by CBEC Chairperson Vanaja Sarna via her fellow board members Ram Tirath, member GST and S. Ramesh, the member IT and Admin.

Sarna said that the unit will act as a quick resource centre for central and state government officials to address their queries on the historic tax reform scheduled to be implemented from July 1.

"The finance ministry has set up a GST feedback and action room specifically for government officials to approach it with any urgent queries related to problems of GST in any area," she said.

Sarna said the action room, which will function from 8 am to 10 pm, will provide prompt response to queries raised by states and central government officials.

A team of tech-savvy young officers will be manning the "war room" to assist officials in resolving their GST-related queries, sources said.

Congress to decide on Wednesday

Suspense continued over the participation of the Congress in the June 30 midnight meeting in parliament to coincide with the launch of GST, with the main opposition party likely to decide on the issue on Wednesday.

According to a senior Congress leader, the party would discuss the issue at a meeting slated on Wednesday evening to arrive at a decision on whether to participate in the event.

Sources said the Congress leaders are divided on the issue, as a group within feels that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was the party's brainchild which has been now taken over by the ruling BJP. 

Therefore, they feel, the party should attend the special meeting convened in the Central Hall of Parliament to launch the GST.

However, some leaders feel that the GST is being implemented in a haste and all aspects have not been taken into consideration leading to harassment of small traders and businessmen and thus, the party should abstain.

At the AICC briefing, party spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said the Modi government was using GST to spread "tax terrorism", whereas the Congress conceptualised the move to simplify the tax regime for small traders and businessmen.

Congress is also seeking views of other like-minded parties on the issue and is likely to hold consultations with them.

Other opposition parties, including the Left, are also yet to decide on whether to participate in the event.

As per earlier reports, former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and H.D. Deve Gowda are expected to share the dais with incumbent Narendra Modi.

Central Hall to witness GST rollout

The historic Central Hall of Parliament will host a midnight function on June 30 to launch the sweeping tax reform measure, reminiscent of India's tryst with destiny on the midnight of August 15, 1947.

The government will use the circular-shaped Central Hall, perhaps for the first time, to launch a new taxation system that is set to dramatically re-shape the over USD 2 trillion economy.

A gong will be sounded at midnight to signify that GST has arrived. Modi will be the key speaker at the function. President Pranab Mukherjee is also likely to attend the function.

The GST Bill was originally piloted by Mukherjee when he was the finance minister in the previous UPA regime. 

(Additional inputs from Soumik Dey)

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Topics : #GST

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