Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 27: After holding a series of Pre- Budget consultation meetings with the stake holders at Srinagar, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather today initiated two days Pre-budget Consultations at Jammu.
The main Associations which called on the Finance Minister during today’s 06 hours long marathon meetings included 26 members delegation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries Jammu led by its President Y. V. Sharma, Confederation of Indian Industry headed by its President Anil Mahajan, Traders and Retailers Federation Jammu headed by Yash Paul Gupta, Federation of Industries Jammu led by its Secretary General, Virender Jain, Hoteliers Associations of Jammu represented by Ravi Mahajan, Kuldeep Wahie, Ashiq Hussain and Baldev Raj.
The Economic Advisor to Govt. Jalil Ahmed Khan, Principal Secretary, Finance B. B. Vyas, Commissioner Commercial Taxes, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Excise Commissioner Aneeta Gupta, Additional Secretary Finance Showkat Aijaz and concerned Deputy Commissioners of different wings of Excise and Taxation Department also participated in the Pre-Budget consultation meetings.
Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister said that the Pre-Budget consultations is a joint exercise between the stakeholders and concerned Govt agencies for drawing broader outlines of a blue print for pragmatic and people friendly budget that could satiate political, economic and social aspirations of the people. He said that these consultations provide us an insight about the problems and demands of the stake holders including trade and industry, adding that despite having limited resources, the Govt has been trying its best to accommodate maximum possible suggestions and demands put forth during discussions in the Budget document.
He said while seeking concessions and incentives, the aspect of revenue generations has also to be kept into consideration, which he said, was imperative for the overall growth of economy and development of the State. “After all the Government is also answerable before the Planning Commissioner of India for its performance with regard to resource mobilization “Mr Rather added.
Mr Rather said that computerization of Commercial Taxes Department is a step towards removing hardships of the Trade and Industry, adding that e-filing of returns would go a long way in minimizing interface between dealers and employees of the Commercial Taxes Department. He said the ultimate objective and idea of internet usage in Commercial Taxes Department is to make things easy for trade and industry, adding that the system is yet in infancy which needs to be introduced slowly but steadily.
The Minister also assured the participants in the Pre-Budget consultation meetings that the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime,being implemented throughout the country shortly, will be introduced in J&K State after taking on board all the stakeholders. He said interests of Trade and Industry will be fully safeguarded while implementing this biggest ever tax reform in the State.
The delegations highlighted the problems of Jammu in the fields of infrastructure, traffic congestion, Multitier Parking and road connectivity, adding that besides focusing on Trade Policy the new years budget should spell out measures for setting up warehouses, wholesale and retail shopping complexes, additional special goods markets to enhance the opportunities for more trade and business in summer. They also sought further tax concessions for trade and industry in the State.
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