Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Economic Survey 2018-19 tabled in both Houses of Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today quoted Hinduism, Islam, Christianity to Deter Tax Evasion and Wants Taxpayer to be the New VIP.
The Survey has suggested ways to bring about behavioural changes to widen the tax net in India.
The document noted that in Hinduism, non-payment of debts is a sin and also a crime. The scriptures ordain that if a person’s debts are not paid and he dies in a state of indebtedness, his soul may have to face evil consequences.
The Economic Survey quoted Hinduism’s doctrine of pious obligation and read, “Therefore, it is the duty of his children to save him from such evil consequences. This duty or obligation of a child to repay the debts of the deceased parent is rested upon a special doctrine.”
Further reinstating the need to link religion with tax evasion, the document read, “Under Islam, Prophet Muhammad advocated – Allaahummainnia’oodhibika min al-ma’thamwa’lmaghram (O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from sin and heavy debt). A person cannot enter Paradise until his debt is paid off. All of his wealth could be used to pay the debt and if it is insufficient then one or more heirs of the deceased could voluntarily pay for him.”
The Economic Survey also quoted from the Bible. “The Bible says, ‘Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another – Romans 13:8’ and ‘The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives -Psalm 37:21’,” it noted.
Thus, the document read, the repayment of debt in one’s own life is prescribed as necessary by scriptures across religions. “Given the importance of religion in the Indian culture, the principles of behavioural economics need to be combined with this “spiritual/religious norm” to reduce tax evasion and wilful default in the country,” it read.
“Ardhanareshwar — a half male-half female representation of Lord Shiva — captures the equality between men and women. The Rigveda identified many women sages as treasures of knowledge and foresight: the prophetess Gargi, who questioned the origin of all existence in her Vedic hymns and the great Maitreyi, who rejected half her husband’s wealth in favour of spiritual knowledge”notes the survey.
“The long philosophical conversations between sage Agasthya and his highly educated wife Lopamudra are legendary,” says the survey.
It adds that many popular men were identified with their mothers or wives and companions.
“Men in ancient Indian society were identified with their mothers, Yashoda-Nandan, Kaushalya-Nandan, Gandhari-Putra, as well as their wives/consorts, Janaki-Raman, Radha-Krishna.”
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