Editor,
GST, a new tax regime with huge publicity and trumpeting, grips India with mixed feelings of excitement, nervousness and apprehensions. Normally it is necessary to concede at least 6 month’s time to notify all rules and procedures and give enough time to stakeholders, particularly the small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to successfully implement GST. The Government is going ahead with the implementation, without taking into account the readiness of the people to adapt to the new regime. The general public is deeply and seriously concerned about the government’s lack of preparedness.
BSE Sensex has already plunged by 180 points recording its biggest fall in a month and there are jitters ahead of GST roll-out. The NSE nifty has also ended 63.6 points lower. With the GST roll-out drawing closer there has been a drop in the industrial manufacturing by the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the northeast. While the drop in manufacturing has been witnessed across segments, plastic industrial units have especially shown a significant decline. There has been a 30-40% drop in sale, because they are not aware of the pros and cons of GST. GST is all also set to make vehicle leasing costlier.
The mythical assurance of “GST will not impact essential drugs stock” by the Government has been dispelled by the down-to-earth market situation. A majority (50-70%) of chemists and stockists across the country are not clear about GST aspects, and are yet to initiate implementation processes in their businesses, indicating possible drug shortages in certain therapies. Supply of certain medicines may get disrupted, particularly of high-value ones like oncology therapies, and those which have been launched recently, as chemists will maintain restricted inventory. But is there any guarantee that the essential and life-saving drugs/medicines will not be affected? The on-ground readiness of distributors and chemists to implement GST by July 1 unfortunately remains below par as has been revealed by a survey conducted by information and technology-enabled healthcare service provider, Quintiles IMS. In the opinion of this service-provider managing short-term disruption due to new tax regime will be challenging.
At the moment ground realities are highly alarming. Essential commodities such as medicines are not available in many places and have started disappearing from the market throughout the country and prices of various commodities are rising for lack of clarity, creating a climate of all-pervading confusion, chaos and mismanagement.
It is also inexplicable as to why prime-mover fuels like petrol and diesel, which control transport of all essential commodities like food-grains & medicines and daily needs for mere survival of the majority of people of the country having low buying capacity, and which give rise to price –rise of all essential commodities, have been kept out of the ambit of GST? As of now for petrol and diesel the central excise is 23% and state VAT is 34%. Total tax is 57%. If these essential items are brought under GST, the maximum tax will be only 28%, which means the prices of petrol and diesel can come down by almost 50% and the public at large will be benefited. In a democratic country the Government is formed “ of the people, by the people and for the people” as per the fundamental definition of democracy. How then can the Government and the ministers take a myopic view on the measures that would benefit people whom they are representing while administering the country?
Is the Central Government in an unnecessary and undue haste to commit a historic blunder after demonetisation?
Samares Bandyopadhyay
Advocate, Kolkata High Court
Via email
Delhi Golf Club incident!
Editor,
Apropos the headlines in your newspaper “Delhi golf club staff asks Khasi woman in ‘maid’s dress’ to leave (ST June 27, 2017), the incident is highly condemnable. That a lady from Meghalaya, had to go through this unpleasant ordeal in the capital city of this vast country is pitiable and for this to happen in a country known for its great diversity and the second largest democracy in the world is appalling. That people don’t look the same in terms of their body and facial features and in their body language is a well settled fact. It is illogical that people who are in the hospitality sector are not aware of this social reality.
The Khasi traditional attire ‘Jainsem’ is a decent dress proudly worn by the female population in large parts of Meghalaya. Most people even at the very first look at the Jainsem, admire its uniqueness and beauty. I wonder what was written on that lady’s physical appearance that she was unnecessarily taunted with the term ‘maid’ or ‘Nepali maid’, which only depicts racial introvert mindset to degrade the dignity of labour. From when has being a maid turned into a taboo in our society? In fact maids do a great service to the society. More so, the lady was there to attend a lunch party as an invited guest, so she must have been treated at par with other guests. But she was singled out for her looks, her dress and not least hurled racial abuse at! How disgusting and totally unfounded and unexpected this is in 21st century India!. Those employees indulging in this regressive and unethical treatment towards a respectful lady must be stringently dealt with, also with instruction to go through some ethics classes to learn etiquette before coming to serve in hotels or clubs or other hospitality sectors so that no such treatment is ever meted out to any one in future.
Every citizen expects equal treatment irrespective of one’s looks, dress, race and region one comes from and everyone should respect this distinctiveness in this country of diversity. This ethos is part of every culture and ethnicity. To debase this ethos amounts to extreme humiliation and disrespect for the rights of a fellow citizen.
Yours etc.,
Anjalee Balal Magar
Via email
Promise of affordable housing
Editor,
This refers to your thought-provoking article, “Housing for Villages – “Titles & affordable key challenges” (ST – June 3, 2017).It is time high density structures with modern amenities be considered to replace urban slums. An enabling ecosystem can facilitate well-planned and Sustainable Urbanization that will adequately meet housing needs of the urban poor. One thing is clear that unless we have a holistic housing policy which addresses the full spectrum of requirements, ranging from ownership to rental accommodation and shared housing, universal housing will remain a distant dream.
Yours etc.
,Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad – 15