State to reap benefits from GST: NITI Aayog member

SHILLONG: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) will help states like Meghalaya which have larger demands as they will see more tax revenue flowing in, said NITI Aayog Member Vijay Kumar Saraswat on Friday.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the 24th convocation of the North Eastern Hill University here, Saraswat said the idea behind GST “is to ensure that those sectors which were not covered under taxation are brought under taxation to improve revenue”.
“When revenue will increase, it will go to new scheme of devolution and states will get 42 percent and if our revenue and GDP are high, states will get more funds and the aspiration of the states can be fulfilled,” he added.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, in January, had said GST, once rolled out in the State, would benefit Meghalaya despite the initial operational challenges.
Earlier, Saraswat said the Centre is prioritising growth of healthcare, education, agriculture, railways and industries in the North East.
“We will convert the North East into a developed sector,” he said. Stating that NITI Aayog has many North East-specific programmes, he said the Centre is providing cold chain facilities. Reacting to a query, he said the Aayog is planning programmes in consultation with state governments. When asked about its three-year action plan, Saraswat said the plan is to be studied by all the states after which the Aayog will interact with each state before formulating the final three-year action plan.