Ludhiana: Kids from slums take lead in depositing tax, says Income-tax officials

LUDHIANA: In a rare gesture to promote tax culture, the officers of income-tax department of Ludhiana have voluntarily paid more than their due taxes ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 each as a contribution to nation building. The officials said it might inspire people to pay more tax for the cause.
The officials said they would seek refund on this amount, which otherwise would be refunded automatically.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, chief commissioner of income-tax (CCIT), Ludhiana, Binay K Jha said the officers of the department had decided to pay more than their due tax to convey to the assessees that the department not only discharges its statutory obligation of collecting taxes and providing services to taxpayers, but is ready to take a step ahead and lead by personal example. More than 15 lakh assessees in Ludhiana region had filed income-tax returns this year, showing an income of below Rs 5 lakh. This number was slightly higher than last year.
He said even a marginal payment of a little more than Rs 400 per month by these 15 lakh assessees alone could result in contribution of Rs 750 crore per year to the national exchequer.
Meanwhile, setting an example for many, two children from slums gave a draft of Rs 1,000 each to the I-T department as their contribution. On Thursday, two Class 4 students of a school for slum children in Ludhiana where officers of income-tax department had gone as part of their ‘Slum to Scholar’ scheme, brought demand drafts as “tax”. Khushi, whose father is a tailor and mother works in a factory, and Deepak, son of a painter, used their pocket money for the purpose. They said they wanted to contribute to the nation.
Saluting the act by the children, Jha said awareness, thoughtfulness and patriotism of children made each draft priceless. Jha said he was confident that the initiative taken by his officers and the example set by the two children would inspire all the others, specially the assessees who have children of their own, by convincing them to invest in their children’s future by paying tax and helping build a strong, prosperous and happy India.