ITANAGAR, Feb 13: Tax & Excise (T&E) Minister Jarkar Gamlin has urged the officers and officials of the department to maintain transparency in the department’s functioning.
Addressing a coordination meeting here on Monday, Gamlin called for transparency in the department, “so that the general public may be able to perceive the working mechanism of the government.”
Sometimes, due to miscommunication between officers, misunderstandings happen, and such lapses draw flak, he said.
The minister advised the department to refrain from delaying file movement, and assured his cooperation to ensure effective functioning of the department.
T&E Parliamentary Secretary Tapuk Taku said GST taxation should follow central government guidelines to avoid criticism and to generate revenue.
“The tax and excise department is the highest revenue generator in the state, but the department’s achievements and performance have never reached the general public,” said T&E Chief Commissioner Marnya Ete.
T&E Commissioner Anirudh Sharan Singh highlighted the necessity of digital optical fibre for connectivity in the state to secure confidential GST-related data. He also expressed displeasure over the existing transfer and posting policy wherein staff have been transferred and posted within the capital complex.
Singh also called for recruitment of staff to mitigate the problem of manpower shortage, and apprised the minister of the lack of vehicles in the department.
The participating officers said although the department has generated the highest revenue in the state, it received fewer funds under the SADA, the RE and the AOP compared to other working departments.
Effective transfer and posting policy and posting of capable officers at GST felicitation centres were also discussed in the meeting, according to an official release.
