SHADOWS UNDER GST...

     

       An AEC meeting of the AIACEGEO was held in New Delhi on 20.08.2016. A delegation of CESA-Mumbai attended the meeting.

      Apart from the AEC agenda, CESA-Mumbai urged the AIACEGEO to call for an emergency meeting, exclusively on GST to ascertain the changes in the ensuing new tax regime and safeguard the careers of the members of our Cadre. Dignity of the cadre needs to be safeguarded. AIACEGEO agreed with our concerns and proposed to hold a meeting on 10.09.2016 in New Delhi, for discussing exclusively on GST issues and another meeting on 11.09.2016 for discussing other burning issues and to chalk out a future strategy in this regard. It is also agreed to have a joint meeting of all the Cadres of Chief Office Bearers i.e. Group ‘C’, ‘B’ and ‘A’ at Mumbai on 17.09.2016.

      The process for the implementation of GST is proceeding at a fast pace. Recently, the Hon’ble Chairman of CBEC was in Mumbai for disseminating the developments in GST.  Those who attended the meeting were disheartened as nothing concrete has been projected about the role of CBEC and its employees in the new tax regime.

       It reminds one of the British parliamentarian, Lord Macaulay’s address to the British Parliament on 02.02.1835 that

  “ I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar or who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage ….”

        This was the pride this country had in the eyes of Britishers in the early 18^th century. In our Department, the field officers have shown their courage and booked smugglers, tax evaders, drug peddlers, money launderers, etc. The so called big industrialists, whoever he may be, for ex. Reliance, Kingfisher, Adanis, Ruias, Bombay Dyeing, so on & so forth, but unfortunately, it is the top officials who are interested in shaking their hands and tightening ours. Our tax system, as on date, is a tried, tested & a trusted one. Wherever the police and other law enforcement agencies have failed in booking the high and mighty offenders, the officers of CBEC have acted with empty hands, without caring for their lives, have booked them. That the law is equal and no one is above or below it.

         In the ensuing GST, can anyone say and certify to the extent, that my country will be free from beggars and there will be no theft, whether it is personal or national. It pinches those who are in the highest realm, instead of guiding the huge workforce (roughly around 70,000) have chosen to remain in a silent mode without raising any concerns/issues from our side before the authorities.

         Yesterday, on 22.08.2016, DoPT has issued an OM for constitution of a task force for a comprehensive study on the cadre structure of organised Group ‘A’ Central Services. The comments and the views of the Cadre Controlling Authorities have been requested for within 15 days. The detailed OM is annexed.

         Time is too short. We have to act and react in the forthcoming scenario, what will be the status of the other cadres, i.e. Group ‘C’ & ‘B’, which forms the base cadre and are large in numbers. CESA-Mumbai appeals to everyone to introspect and act as well as fight for our rightful place in the coming new tax regime, so that in the future, no one will blame us for not reacting on a timely basis, for what we lose or gain ultimately.

 

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