GST – INNOVATION OR IMBROGLIO

Indian Parliament ushered in the much hyped “Goods and Service Tax” (GST) from the 1^st day of July 2017, after prolonged parleys and deliberations between the Treasury benches and the Opposition. On a general perspective, it is a  dynamic move for introducing,  imposing uniform tax structure nationwide, removing varied tax rates which were in vogue and practice in the states of the Union since Independence.  Only an in depth analysis and acclimatization of traders to its interpretation,  nuances and receptiveness of the general public to its intricacies would go to speak about the pros and cons of this novel attempt.  It would be a boon if inflation falls, and bane if it boomerangs and overshoots the roof, burning a hole in the common man’s pocket. Time is the best judge and deciding factor.

The new legislation has four tax rates (5%, 12%, 18% and 28%) wherein everything that is manufactured, traded, sold and serviced have been classified and brought under.  The President of India, The Prime Minister and his council of ministers are unanimous in espousing the highlights of the Goods and Service Tax and the enormous benefits that would flow to the citizens, through reduction of prices of essential commodities. It is ironical that Congress, the main Opposition party, which propounded the concept of introducing a single tax rate all over the country, boycotted the “ historical midnight session of Parliament “, much to the chagrin of the ruling party and its allies. 

What would be the implications of Goods and Service Tax on the commoner – whether it will make them heave a sigh of relief through price control, falling inflation,  or make them groan in pain, fume with anger and  discontentment spurred by the system’s lapses and shortcomings,  is to be seen in the long run. It would be too premature to judge the outcome. 

Personally I wouldn’t rate it as exemplary, like it is being advertised by the Government in all media forms. There is lot of  ambiguity, apprehensions among varied industry, entrepreneurs,  traders and the elusive factor is “clarity”, on many facets of law.

It is to be acknowledged that basic essentials have been left out of the tax bracket, and the next rung of commodities suffer 5 % taxation. The yardstick  adopted for classifying the goods under various brackets is not decipherable. It is rather intriguing. For example – it is found that while  detergent soaps attract lower tax,   shampoos are placed in the higher slab rate, figuring as a luxury item. I am left to wonder as to when, how this transition took place and by whom it was done.  Corn flakes which have found a permanent place in the kitchen shelves of middle class families for quite some years now, suffers heavy tax, whereas  pizza cakes, macaroni, spaghetti and the likes have been sparingly taxed. Packed groundnut cakes, sweets prepared by village cottage industries have been pushed to the higher rate category.  Likewise the contradictory list is quite long. What is the rationale adopted for formulating such classification? Not fathomable to me. 

Some category of industries have come to bear the brunt in full. Particularly the matchbox, fireworks, wet grinders, entertainment etc.,  who have struck work from day one of implementation. They require a soothing gesture from the Government.

A disquieting factor is the consistent fall in interest rates on all category of saving instruments, over the past few years. Every deposit renewal fetches diminished rate of return on investments, placing the common man, more particularly the senior citizens in dire straits. The gap between inflation and income remains unbridgeable. Making ends meet is becoming a distant dream for the man on the streets.

Encouraging / increasing public savings is a pivotal task of a welfare state. This should  be achieved  by providing reasonable interest rate on investments. Contrarily,   the  interest  on  all types of savings,  has consistently traversed the one way route – “downward”.  People will lose ( have started losing ) interest in saving their hard earned money, in the future, if the interest rates are not made attractive.  Let the ruling polity take the bold step to cut down on the perquisites, benefits enjoyed by the Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, do away with unwanted subsidies and curtail other Governmental expenditures, which will save humongous amount to the exchequer.  After all pruning should begin from the people’s “ Prathinithis “. ( representatives ).

Another jolt that has been delivered on the masses is the steep increase in service tax rate on the premium amount paid on  insurance  policies.    A totally unwarranted step, which would have serious repercussions on the  wellbeing  of  the insurance sector in the long run.  Corrective measures have to be taken by the Government to enable the industry to stay on a robust state, lest it may get plagued with ill health in future. “ Jeevan Bhima Nigam “ should not cry out           “ Jeevan Bachao “ over the years.

To perorate, the Government should seriously introspect to plug the loopholes, correct the mistakes, set right the shortfalls in Goods and Service Tax (GST) rates, classification pattern and manner of implementation, for promoting healthy economic growth, coupled with healthier public acceptance and appreciation.

This is an appeal from me, a CM ( Common Man ), to the PM ( Prime Minister ). Onus is on the Government to act – “ fast “.  Time is of essence.

                                                          =====

APPALLING APATHY

            The video clip aired by leading English news channels of the country bringing to fore the pitiable conditions in which our soldiers and servicemen are living in inhospitable terrain up in the Himalayan border glaciers, braving all odds and ills in the service of the nation, came as a rude shock  to me and millions of fellow countrymen.

            The clip features a soldier stationed in a border post on Indo-Pakistan border in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and has been filmed by himself, in which he explains the travails undergone by him and other men of his company at the hands of his / their superior officers. He elaborates that soldiers serving at such   hostile places are not provided with adequate,  healthy food. What can one say about this startling revelation,  other than getting dumbstruck by the  indifference and lethargy shown and practiced in the military hierarchy..

            We hear about peasants, artisans, petty traders and businessmen, the downtrodden and the ordinary have-nots going hungry due to natural calamities, acts of God, unemployment and other related reasons. But this is the first time we have seen a hungry soldier, who in fact is a “Dwara Paalaka” of the nation,  narrating his tale of woe before public gaze. What a shame? While the viewing disturbed the mind, the thought and ground scenario remains detestable and  indigestible.

This video has been viewed by millions all over the world. Will it not present our nation in a bad light. Have we not failed, sinned our brave hearts, who deserve nothing other the best in food and comfort. Such callous treatment meted out to the nation’s guardians is worrisome, the mindset behind it being undecipherable. If not corrected on a war footing, it may have a telling effect on the morale of the serving personnel over the years.

            We see public money being wasted / looted unabashedly at will by the bureaucrats and echelons of political class, without much of a hue and cry being raised by the citizens, as their only hope to curb such rapaciousness lies on the judiciary.

            Let this video be an eye opener to the Government and the Defence Department, who should  bestow serious attention on this disturbing state of affairs and correct the wrong done to our servicemen, to whom every ordinary citizen is indebted for life.

Jai Jawan.

   

A NATION OF CONTRASTS

We are a nation of startling contrasts.   An union of varied races, languages, castes, religions et al.. To put it openly – a   country of divergent groups of people,   stuck   together by a democratic framework,  adopted  constitution and a strong, disciplined military.

We have -

1)    Opulent wealth resting with one section of people, heartrending poverty roasting another section

2) Strident industrial development on one side, staggering, and struggling  agricultural scenario on the other side

3)    Uncontrolled urban development,  uncared for rural areas

4) Massive medical institutions, hospitals in cities and towns, while rampant malnourishment, apathetic health conditions, abhorring infrastructure plague the  rural  areas, so much so that a poor, unfortunate citizen had to carry  his  wife’s  dead  body on foot for over 10 kilometers, for want of an ambulance in Orissa.

5)    Conquered the skies with satellites, whereas our villages and remote areas languish without  adequate street lights

6)    Emerged as leaders in the field of software, but millions walk without footwear

7)    Shining four lane expressways, but deplorable potholed country roads

8)    Highly corrupt polity and  bureaucracy, ruling over a submissive, tolerant and docile populace

9)    Women Goddesses deified as Immortals in temples, while the common mortals are  tormented, harassed at home, work spots  and public places 

10) Numerous tax rates and structures,  with wide scale evasion

11) Been blessed with many rivers and other natural resources, over which regional states bicker and fight. The horrendous attack by Kannada fringe outfits on Tamils and their properties at Bangalore and other places in Karnataka sent shock waves throughout the country. The hooliganism had the stamp of indirect political instigation as everything seems to have been preplanned malevolently and executed with hatred.  This   unfortunate    episode   has   once again proved that  all  high talk, rhetoric  and  sermons  on Indian integration are nothing but a farce and  laughing stock. The mindless mayhem unleashed on the streets of Bangalore is deplorable and highly condemnable.   Bangalore’s   image  has  suffered  a  beating,  with  insecurity plaguing the industrial houses and business entrepreneurs.

12) Unity in diversity as the official motto, contrarily on the ground disunity prevails in Toto – what with the innumerable caste, communal clashes, regional disturbances fuelled by river disputes, border tussles etc

13)  Abundant manpower and skills, but unexplored talents going unrecognized due to official and bureaucratic apathy

14)  An array of native languages,  house a multi lingual society, all unified by a foreign language ( English )

15)  A surging sense of patriotism and oneness exhibited during an emergency and external threat, and an overt exhibition of disunity during peaceful times.

16) Recurrent political scams of gargantuan nature, enacted  without remorse or shame

17)  Institutions lending at will to big businessmen who default on repayment and even flee the country, while the poor and middle class borrowers are physically assaulted and harassed by recovery agents.

The list can continue a bit longer. But it is time to stop.

The ruling establishment at the  Centre should strive its best towards fostering an uniform, all round development in the country, eschewing political differences  and  work  steadfastly for  removing   regional  imbalances.

This is our motherland, and all the wealth that  She has,  is   to  be inherited,  shared  and  enjoyed  by  everyone  of  us,  cohesively.

                                           =====

INTERLINKING OF RIVERS – ONLY SOLUTION TO INDIA’S WATER WOES

India is a nation with abundant wealth, be it men, material and natural resources. Mother Nature has showered Her blessings in abundance, and  bestowed  this boon genuinely, fostered by the belief that the people of this great nation would live together amicably, in a cohesive manner.

 

But as ill luck would have it, Indians have always bickered amongst themselves when it comes to sharing of natural resources like land and water. The unfortunate  episode  continues  to  this  day,  espousing  another  side  of our  “ oneness “, quite different and distinct rather, but a realistic one.

It has always been a herculean task for the lower riparian states of the Indian Union to get their rightful share of water from their upper riparian counterparts,  except  during periods of  benevolent monsoon.  This  fluid,  nagging problem gets temporarily  “ closed “, when the skies “ open “ generously.  

The dispute in sharing of Cauvery waters between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the omnipresent Mullaperiyar tussle between Kerala and Tamil Nadu have assumed a perennial nature, akin to the flow of the rivers. The parochial mindset of the governing establishment has only worsened the situation. Tempers run high on both sides, endangering law and order, thereby throwing normal life out of gear at regular intervals. The unfortunate victims are the innocent commoner and the distraught farming class.

The warring states have been fighting prolonged legal battles, much to the chagrin of the Honorable Judges of the Supreme Court of India, who have advised  the  high handed  upper  riparian parties to  follow  the  basic  tenet of “ Live and let live “, which is an embodiment of  Bharatiya  Samskara.

On the one hand we see states like Assam, Bengal,  Bihar, Uttarpradesh, and other places that lie on the banks of the Brahmaputra, Ganga, and  Yamuna, reeling under floods on a yearly basis, marooning vast stretches of land and throwing normal life out of gear, causing  widespread destruction to crop, cattle and importantly humans.  Ironically on the other hand, draught, famine, water scarcity plagues states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa etc.   Abundance  of  water wreaking  havoc  on one side, and  dearth of the same  creating  untold  misery  on  the  other  side.  Tell tale evidence  of  sadistic  disparity.

Have we ever seen the European / the American  nations, fight amongst themselves  in  sharing  the  waters  of  the  Rhine,  Danube,  Seine, Amazon,  and other great rivers?  Not known or seen by me in the generations of my living memory.  Clear cut, sterling example of collective and conducive living.

We are a sovereign nation for nearly seventy years. Nonetheless we have made strident development on many fields and enjoy good reputation among the comity of nations. It is high time serious steps are initiated towards interlinking of Indian rivers, on a phased manner, which would usher in tremendous growth in terms of produce, and bring prosperity to the populace. TIME FOR VERY SERIOUS INTROSPECTION  AND THINKING. MAY THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT UNDERSTAND REALITY, SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPLEMENT   THE  SAME  WITH  STRIDENT ACTION. 

Let us remember that  “ Mother  Nature  can  take  care  of  everyone’s  need,  but  cannot  satisfy  an individual’s  greed “.

JAI HIND.

                                                          ====

                                                

UDTA PUNJAB

                                               

 The  above  titled  film  has  created  a  sensation  in  India and among the Indian Diaspora  living  abroad, even  before  its  release.  It has brought to light the widespread use of drugs by Punjabi youth and the havoc caused by it on Punjabi society.  The  scourge  was  reported  earlier  through   articles  in  the  print  media,  but  the  film  has  exposed the  veracity,  severity of this catastrophe that is  threatening the  social  fabric,  health and  wellbeing  of  thousands of  youth in Punjab.

Punjab  has  always  been  known  as  the  land  of  plenty,  prosperity  and  valor. It is one  of  the  most  developed  states  of  the  Indian  Union,  and  has  been  the  forerunner in various  fields like agriculture, industrial   development, infrastructural advancement,  lionhearted  inhabitants,  hardworking  labor  force et al. It  still  remains the  wheat granary of India and  feeds  a  sizable  percentage  of  the  Indian populace.

I  happened  to  view a  documentary  aired  by  an  English  Channel  on  this  disturbing subject  a  fortnight  back.  A  sense  of  anguish  and  sadness  permeated  in my mind and  it took me  some time  to  get  away  from  it. 

The   scenes  were  disturbing  indeed. The  camera  captured  piles  of disposable syringes, empty, half filled, fully loaded vials of spurious, life threatening drugs, generated  both  internally within the state and stealthily smuggled from across the border. Amidst  lush  green  fields,  youngsters  were  seen smoking hashish, and injecting  drugs,  on  the  light   of   dawn  itself.

The  reporter  focused  on  some highly  infested  pockets  and  featured  on  numerous families  whose  wards  have  lost  their  youth,  energy  and  life  in  Toto, having become  slaves  of  drugs.  The   effects   were  very  clear  to  see.  Scores  of  youth sported  dazed  looks,  hazy  mind  and  face,  exhibited   devastated  and  wreaked frames.  The irony  is  that  the  hapless  victims  openly  confided  that  they  cannot  live  without drugs.    Many  distraught  parents   have  resigned / reconciled  themselves  to  the  cruel,  sadistic  game  that  destiny  had  thrust  on  them.

It   is  high  time  the  State  and  Central  Governments  crack  the  whip  and  come down  heavily  on  the  drug  peddlers  /  traffickers,  by  meting  out  stringent punishment  on  them,  so  as  to  redeem  the  dynamic  youth  of  Punjab  from  the cancerous  spread  of  drug  addiction.  This  disease  needs  a  strong  panacea, and  given  the  alarming  ground  reality,  wielding  the  stick  alone will  help and  provide succor  to  thousands  of  devastated  families.

UTO  PUNJAB. TIME  TO  RISE  AGAIN.

JAI HIND

                                                

Indifferent Leaders

                                                 

Sri.Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar set the ball rolling by distributing valuable gifts on the netas of his state, so as to keep them in happy stead.

Sri.K.Chandrasekara Rao, Chief Minister of Telangana state got the cue and closely followed suit by announcing a manifold increase in the salaries of his state MLAs, who are indeed blessed, as they have literally hit a jackpot. Can there be a better New Year Gift to those privileged coterie of prathinithis. A whopping  increase of over 150% in monthly salary for every MLA.

Not to be left far behind in the race, Sri.Veerbadra Singh, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, has bestowed a similar bounty on the elected representatives of his state. Sheer  cornucopia. 

An example has been set. Now it is just for the other states to emulate and follow suit with similar benefaction.

Can there be a more insidious  way  of  irritating the ordinary citizens in general and insulting the agriculturists in particular, when hordes of farmers are committing suicide driven by crop failure, debt burden and poverty?

Is it not the most inopportune time to indulge in  such extravaganza and gobble up  public money  when the peasants are immersed in penury and nearly half  of  India is reeling under severe drought?

Does it not tantamount to thriving on human misery?

How can this salary hike and lavishing of gifts be justified through rational thinking and interpretation, when people are sweating it out to  make  both  ends  meet.

Adding insult to injury is the oft repeated news about the overseas trips and pleasure junkets made by the  elected representatives’ of different states, under the garb of  study tours to educate themselves about the infrastructure and other developmental aspects associated with town planning and governance, effectively implemented and put into operation in foreign countries. What transpires is entirely different, though.

Come a populist leader’s birthday -  By Jove,   can  there be a better occasion to spend tax payers money than on throwing a bashing party, with glitzy film stars, political and industrial leaders, all running riot with frenzy. Making merry and freaking out at the commoner’s expense. Having seen such visual irritants over and over again in television, the man on the street has become immune to all sorts of political indifference, irresponsibility and callousness,  that   they  do  not  make any impact in his benumbed mind.

Oh come on man - After all Emperor Nero played fiddle when Rome was burning.    There are historical precedents to lean on and bank upon. Then why make an issue out of all this. It is peoples’ money and it has to be spent lavishly on their representatives’.  Logically  so  simple, by existing  political culture. Isn’t.

Stalwarts like Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari ( Rajaji ), Kamaraj, Kakkan, Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, were men of sterling character, who lived a simple life and upheld probity in public life. Parallel can be drawn to Sri.Manik Sarcar, the present Chief Minister of Tripura, whose asset value is less than that of an ordinary sales representative.  They will always be held in high esteem by the laymen and  live  in  their  hearts forever, whereas the flamboyant lot will be looked down with disdain and fade from memory very soon.

Politicians should serve the people and not do disservice to  them  through  unjust personal enrichment.

The words of Subramania Bharathi’s song – “ Nenju Porukkudillaye indha nilai ketta manidharai ninaindhu vittal “ ring in my ears.  May saner political wisdom  prevail.

Jai Hind

                                                           

QUINQUENNIAL DRAMA

Five Indian States ( Tamil Nadu,  Pondicherry,  Kerala, Assam  and  West Bengal ) go to polls this summer. Political activity and manoeuvring are gathering pace with each passing day, like the scorching heat. Parties parley with each other notching up new alliances, all born out of compulsion / convenience,  than of choice. Former allies have turned adversaries now and vice versa. Old friends are new enemies and new pals were old rivals, lending credence to the saying – “ There  are  no permanent friends and enemies in politics “ 

Political alliances are sewn mainly for winning the elections and securing power, than on upholding principles and probity. Politics has got narrowed down to a number game played by applying all permutations and combinations towards garnering victory.  Money and muscle power will flow in plenty, leaving morality to penury.

The  commoner  will  be viewed, treated like a Prince by all politicians till the culmination of the electoral exercise. Once results pour out, he would be comfortably forgotten and thrown in the wilderness,  given his indifference and lethargy.

The electorate should be conscious, knowledgeable in weighing the pros and cons of alliances and choose the right one for ushering in a period of development and peace. Most importantly they should totally refrain from accepting money for casting their vote as it is not a tradable commodity, but is a treatise of conscience. They should uphold morality  in   thinking,  exhibit  political  maturity, and not make a dichotomy of the two.

It is the avowed wish   of  the  people  that  the  august  houses of power should get filled by men of character and conduct driven by the desire to deliver and serve the public at large, without fear or favor, which alone would affix the stamp of excellence  on democracy.

Politics should turn out martinets and not produce megalomaniacs. May the best of men and mechanism win for  the  benefit  of  mankind.  JAI HIND.