Poll-promises for traders by Prime Minister: Letters to The EDITOR

Poll-promises for traders by Prime Minister

The Prime Minister on April 19, 2019 while addressing traders at Talkatarora Stadium at New Delhi made poll-promises such as rupees 50 lakh loans without collateral security, pension and credit-cards for traders, confessing difficulties faced by traders in implementation of GST. But nothing will improve till GST-structure is totally overhauled in one go rather than in parts to the extent that traders and others under GST network may be able to file GST-returns themselves that too in a manner that tax-evasion for GST and subsequently Income Tax may not be possible.

There must be only two basic GST-slabs of 10 and 30 percent respectively for commodities and services of day-to-day use and of long-term use with slabs of 0, 3, 5, 12 and 18 percent clubbed in 10-percent slab with 28-percent slab marginally increased to 30-percent. For extra-luxurious commodities presently attracting cess, additional slabs in multiples of 50 or 100 percent may be there abolishing concept of cess. Those under GST network may be required to file quarterly returns but to deposit GST on monthly basis. With GST-slab of 12 and 18 percent abolished, Input-Tax-Credit ITC may only be for trading commodities abolishing it for manufacturing sector where maximum tax-theft through ITC is possible. Such a simplified GST system will not affect commoners presently also getting commodities in GST slabs like 0, 3 and 5 percent with revenue earning through GST increasing because of tax-evasion by manufactures through ITC.

Since NBFCs and private banks lure people to take unsecured loans followed by inhuman language and misuse of section 138 of Negotiable Instrument Act for recoveries, financing to NBFCs by public-sector banks should be stopped. Use of section 138 of Negotiable Instrument Act for unsecured loans may not be permitted under law.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal,

1775 Kucha Lattushah,

Dariba, Chandni Chowk,

DELHI.

Hooliganism in hospitals

Doctors are seen to be a soft-target of a section of short-tempered miscreants. All that they require is a trivial issue. It would do well for such unscrupulous persons to think a while that doctors are not persons with super-natural or magical power that they may bring back life to one dead. Moreover, all the hospitals are not well furnished like GMCH, AMCH etc so, doctors have to discharge their duties in many hospitals without the required amenities and for non-availability of the minimum paraphernalia, so if some patients die doctors cannot be held responsible. Moreover, the short-tempered people destroy the furniture and glasses of the hospitals. Of course, as per law the mischief makers have to compensate the loss. But in reality what happens, nothing is known. More often than not doctors are manhandled by miscreants. Very often, some of the attendants of patients raise the issue of dereliction of duties on the part of doctors and nurses, sometimes some avaricious doctor demands bribes for what he/she has done to the patient, despite the fact that the doctors receive a hefty salary from the government.

Ashok Bordoloi,

Dibrugarh.

Tough legislation must to curb 'cash for vote'

The recent spurt in seizure of cash in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, 2019 in the Northeast, is a cause of serious concern for everyone, including legislators. This is especially true if we are really serious about keeping the world's largest democracy thriving in its true spirit. As per a report, Rs. 11.79 crore of cash was seized by flying squads of the Election Commission of India in Assam alone and a staggering Rs. 21.66 crore in the Northeast as a whole. Out of this, while an estimated Rs. 2 crore was recovered from the convoy of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, a total of Rs. 6.92 crore was recovered from Arunachal Pradesh. What happened after the cash recovery from the Arunachal Pradesh CM's convoy is a dark chapter. As a conscious voter, I believe I have the right to know about the outcome of the investigation from these incidents so that I can have a conscious choice, but, it appears to be a mere formality. A strong legislation based on the outcome of investigation, forfeiture of the application of a candidate with jail term as a punitive measure perhaps would act as a deterrent for those who believe in the cash-for-vote mode.

The scenario is same elsewhere in the country, but the ones who are self-professed champions of democracy are conspicuously silent over the issue and it applies equally both to the ruling party and Opposition. With an estimated 900 million voters, and an increase of 84.3 million voters since last the Lok Sabha election in 2014, the 2019 exercise is a mammoth one and to strive for a vibrant democracy, this illness that has gripped the nation in the run-up to the Lok Sabha-2019 election must be crushed with iron hands. I can only hope that strong legislation is put into place to check the disturbing scenario. We must know who are the ones involved in orchestrating the cash-for-vote mode.

Rajib Chakravorty,

Zoo Narangi Road,

Chinaki Path, Guwahati.