‘It’s a profession beyond gender roles’ is what women in SGST Ludhiana say

LUDHIANA: State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) Ludhiana on Tuesday celebrated International Women’s Day in its premises. Having the highest number of women on topmost posts, Ludhiana’s SGST office has been performing exceptionally well. TOI spoke to some of these women officers who shared how it’s like being a taxperson.
The head of the division is also a woman. Randhir Kaur, deputy commissioner of state taxes said, “As Michelle Obama says ‘there is no limit to what a woman can achieve’, I believe every woman in this world is capable of achieving what they set their vision on. As far as our Ludhiana division is concerned, it is the biggest of all SGST divisions in the state and therefore holds utmost importance and has unusual challenges too.”
The Ludhiana SGST has a record number of seven women assistant commissioner of state taxes (ACSTs) and 10 women state taxation officers (STOs)..
The officials also believe the office has given them an equal space to grow.
ACST Dr Sumandeep Kaur says, “We should all be reminded that gender equality is the foundation of economic and social progress. Gender equality is essential to empowering both women and men with the opportunity of success and the prospect of happiness.”
Sumandeep adds: “I feel great to be in the taxation department and working for effective tax compliance. Detecting tax evasion gives me feeling of being a soldier for safeguarding over revenue.”
ACST Shinee Singh believes her profession makes her go beyond the gender dimension. “Being a public servant, the only dimension that is definitive is work. It has made me evolve as a person and see beyond the gender roles, but of course we as women carry the additional responsibility of home management too.”
Other women officers at the office include ACSTs Payal Goyal, Pragati Sethi, Gursimran Kaur and STOs Manu Garg, Dipika Garg, Pavittar Kaur, Mukti Gupta and Eti Gupta.