New Delhi: In what could be a path-breaking administrative reform, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today announced that the Government is contemplating a system of direct collection of tax revenues by key Members of Parliament (MP). Mukherjee, an ace trouble-shooter of the UPA government, briefed the media on the broad framework that had been unanimously agreed by the Congress party and all key allies.
Under the new system, a committee of five most ‘deserving’ MPs/ ministers would be selected who would be entitled to receive tax collections directly from tax-payers. This, as Mukherjee explains, would have several benefits. Tax-payers, who are already more than aware of the ultimate utilization of their money, would be saved the agony of witnessing siphoning of funds from government coffers to private purses. “With this greater transparency, there would be little scope of shameless scams and endless anti-corruption debates”, claims the FM. Mukherjee also added that the government had already selected A Raja and Suresh Kalmadi as two of its nominees, being the inspiration for the idea, and their experience would prove invaluable for the committee.
On the other hand, it shall also save the government on immense administrative costs involved in such avoidable manipulations. “Key saving would be the ministerial and bureaucratic man-hours spent on the meticulous execution of such channelization”, added the Finance Secretary.
However, the minister did highlight that there are several roadblocks. Key challenge would be equitable distribution of the beneficiaries. Considering the political scenario, it is imperative that allies get a fair share of the pie. Mamata Banerjee has already demanded that Trinamool Congress should get a significant chunk considering its support to UPA, and the fact that it is a ruling party at state level.
Mayawati has rubbished the scheme as ‘pocket money for Rahul baba’ and accused Congress of plagiarism. Claiming it to be her brain-child, she insisted that the same would lead to duplication for UP residents, and Centre would have to compensate ‘her’ for the injustice meted out by the Centre on them.
Finance secretary did concede that the federal conflict would be a key thorn in the flesh, but assured that all problems would be ironed out. It would be interesting to see how this pans out in the coming days.