Thursday, January 7, 2016

Steps to shore up tax collection: Capt Abhimanyu

CHANDIGARH, JAN 7
The Haryana Finance Minister, Capt Abhimanyu, has said that the budget for 2016-17 would factor in the changes that have swept the state since the formation of the present government. Since   officers of the Finance Department are very well aware of these changes, the budget would be finalised keeping them in view, he added.
          Speaking while chairing a workshop on pre-budget consultation organised by the Finance Department, here today, Capt Abhimanyu said that various steps were being taken to shore up tax collection by the Urban Local Bodies. In this regard, an advertisement policy is being framed for generating additional revenue of about Rs 1,000 crore. He stressed the need for hundred per cent linking of the various social security schemes with Aadhaar Card.
          The workshop was held to obtain vital suggestions from economists, entrepreneurs, educationists and experts in other fields. The Finance Minister hoped that the suggestions received at the workshop would help in framing schemes to shore up revenue generation in the state.
       Addressing the workshop, the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Finance, Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal, said, “Haryana is considered the best financially managed state and the Haryana Finance Department is leading in terms of maximum use of information technology. Similarly, Haryana is among the top three states in terms of expenditure on education.”
          Since capital expenditure has remained static in the state, it needs to be looked at seriously. Many schemes of the government are sub-optimal and there is need to merge them for proper utilization, he added.
       Giving various suggestions for reducing the fiscal gap, Professor Mukul Asher of National University of Singapore said that there was need to enhance the growth rate in order to reduce the fiscal gap and improve revenue generation. Fiscal gap could also be reduced through better expenditure management, he added.
       Chairman, Global Village Foundation, Mr. Balram Nandwani, said that Haryana had taken the initiative of having pre-budget consultation. So far such consultations are carried out only by the Central Government. Giving his suggestions, Mr. Nandwani said that while preparing the budget,  district should be focused as a unit for development.
       ACS, Home, Mr. P.K. Das, ACS, Excise and Taxation, Mr. Roshan Lal, Finance Expert, Mr. Tilak Chandna, and other senior officers were also present in the workshop.
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