TIOL-DDT 423
8 08 2006
Tuesday

Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister of Pakistan has directed the customs staff at airports to stop harassment of incoming passengers. He plans to check the compliance of his directions, personally at the airports randomly. He has announced the revival of green channel facility at the country’s airports.

Better salaries for select officers

The Indian Government can learn from its Pakistani counterpart. They have a system of better pay packets for certain officers in the Board. Yesterday the Prime Minister announced extension of this largesse to other officers in the directorates of inspection and audit, training and research, intelligence and investigation, customs valuation and post clearance audit, and directorate of research and statistics. However the Prime Minister wanted the Board to match the enhanced compensation with better performance.

We too should have something like this inIndia. There are many hard working sincere officers slogging in our Board with no perks or privileges and under horrible working conditions, while those in the field have a whale of a time with all the frills of office.  While an Assistant Commissioner in a division would have a vehicle (almost for private use), driver, all kinds of hangers on, the Under Secretary who has to make the laws of the nation, has to struggle it to the North Block in a public transport. There are Commissioners in the Board with absolutely no assistance and facilities, while their counterparts in the field are mini maharajahs. When we criticize the notifications and circulars, we also realize that these officers are working under impossible conditions and it is a miracle that they are able to do this much.

The condition of our departmental representatives in the Tribunal is pathetic to say the least. They are our soldiers fighting huge revenue battles, but they are made to fight with sticks against nuclear bombs. Each DR has to attend to at least 10 cases per day and even the cheapest lawyer would charge two thousand rupees per case. So the DR should be getting at least Rs. 20,000 per day. And that’s what he gets for a whole month! What is his inspiration to work, except love for the country? But how long can one sustain on patriotism?

The gross inequalities and differences in status and comforts in different postings will certainly dampen the spirits of the good officers condemned to the bad postings. Even thoroughly honest commissioners would like to have an executive post for the frills and thrills and many of them feel dejected that their more capable colleagues beat them to the post.

The little that the government can do is to make these posts a little more attractive with a little more perks. For example the officers in the Board, Academy, Tribunal (DR) and such identified important but less glamorous posts should be given thrice the salary and perks like a car, computer, PA etc.

May be the Pay Commission can consider this.

Service Tax FAQ – great work by Coimbatore Central Excise

The Coimbatore Chief Commissioner has published a beautiful booklet “Service Tax – FAQ” . The extremely useful and compact booklet has detailed information on 25 select services apart from the 15 new services. The booklet also gives important information like list of services, forms etc. The Chief Commissioner JMK Sekhar deserves all praise for this great work. The Chief Commissioner acknowledges the contribution of Additional Commissioner Srinivas and Superintendents Rajendran and Venkateswaran.

Well done Chief Commissioner’s Unit , Coimbatore. It is this kind of service that will enhance the reputation of the department. We will carry the booklet in our site soon.

Until Tomorrow with more DDT

Have a nice day.

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