The Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI), the largest trade body of the State, extended its displeasure on allegedly not giving space to the suggestions made by it in Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, which has been passed by both Houses of Parliament. The Chamber said on Wednesday that the Bill which was on the way to President now for final approval before it was expected to be implemented from next financial year was a threat to thousands of small traders of State.
Chairman of GST Committee of Jharkhand Small Industries Association (JSIA) Ajay Bhandari said in a press conference jointly organised with FJCCI and laghu Udyog Bharti that small industries and traders have been left deserted as far as the inclusion of their suggestions in GST Bill is concerned. He said that a thorough study and its implications once it comes into effect were needed.
“The entire narrative of the Central Government for advocating GST has been fabricated as simplification of taxation. But the present form of GST only complexes the whole matter for small traders, as the penalisation against any mistake (which is almost sure to occur while implementing very first time) would make it tougher for small companies and traders to sustain,” said Bhandari.
JSIA along with FJCCI also demanded a separate GST Ministry, if not independent then at least under Finance Ministry itself at least for five years, so that fresh suggestions could be made to it regarding the concerns of small traders. FJCCI President Pawan Sharma, however, extended its full support to GST saying that the Chamber was not at all against the Bill. “What we all want to tell the government is that we are not at all against GST. At the same time, it’s painful to see our suggestions and concerns totally cornered. More painful is that we have been left with no other option either to accept the way it is, which is very difficult for us, or to leave the market, which we don’t believe any government would want. At least the one which is claimed to be a Party of traders,” said Sharma.
The Chamber also expressed its serious displeasure against a recent order from Chief Secretary of Jharkhand asking Revenue Department to take action against all those traders who fail to provide name and address of their customers of last three years within 15 days. He said that the Chamber tried its best to seek appointment with CS and had written more than half a dozen letters for the same, but she didn’t even want to meet with us to know our point of view on this. The Chamber said that it was seeking legal opinion against ‘unconstitutional’ order of CS.
The Chamber also met with Divisional Railway officials including DRM Anshul Gupta on Wednesday to explore opportunities to increase business of both.