Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (PMD)
Mangaluru, Jul 12: To understand the nuances of the new tax regime, Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry held an interactive Q and A session, a 'GST Awareness Programme', at its meeting hall, on Wednesday, July 12. The programme was the fifth session of its kind hosted by the chamber.
Dr M Subramanyam, IRS, commissioner, Central Excise and Central Tax, Mangaluru commissionerate was the chief guest of the programme. President Jeevan Saldanha, vice president Vatika Pai, honorary treasurer Ganesh Bhat, and honorary secretary P B Abdul Hameed were dignitaries on the dias.
The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries, and a brief introduction of the chief guest by Vathika Pai.
Dr Subramanyam informed the gathering of the teething problems faced by other countries when adopting GST, and the remedies they employed to deal with those issues. He added, "This tax rollout has been different from others as all stakeholders, which are organisations and associations representing traders, manufacturers, service providers have been the brand ambassadors. Not just the central and state government, but everyone has been been involved.
"The concern at the moment is teething problems. With a population of 1.3 billion transitioning into the new system, there will be some of these. As we step further into the system, we look for ways minimise them. These inital problems were even evident in the South Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore. The former, when adopting GST had numerous protests, and the latter saw cascading effects with problems in getting input credit, effecting the cash flow. But after you get past this phase, you will look back in joy for being a part of this new and effecient system," he said.
Senior officials from the state and central tax departments explained the new provisions of the GST through the Q and A session. The group of experts from the tax commissionerate included Shreyas K M, assistant commissioner, Mangaluru, Shankar N, assistant commissioner, Mangaluru, P T Rai, assistant commissioner, HQ, Ramakrishna Bhat, superintendent, Puttur, and K Nagaraj, superintendent, Udupi.
The resource persons answered industry-specific questions of the various traders and service providers from among the audience. Besides the broader confusion of the tax rate applicable to specific goods and services and their combination. Clarity was given on different tax rates applicable under the Composition Scheme for specific industries. Charges to be fixed in case of packaged items sale in restaurants, taking input credit for old stock, invoice details, last day to file returns, applicable charges on wages, the variation of tax rates on home made and food products, and applicability of reverse charges were discussed during the session.
The president of KCCI, Jeevan Saldanha speaking to daijiworld informed, "These sessions are held on popular demand. The earliers seminars were on specific topics, however, today's session was mostly Q and A. We will have more sessions shortly which would be graced by the presence of M Vinod Kumar, principal commissioner of central excise and central tax, Bengaluru, and the commissioner of commercial taxes, Bengaluru. Custom related queries will be dealt with in particular then. General concerns on GST will also be attended to. Today's session covered topics pertaining to induvidual industries, services, what charges to fix, about inter-state movement of goods, liabilities, and transport. We will hold an 'uploading demonstration' too in one of our next sessions."
The KCCI has conducted a series of 'dealers' and stake holders' awareness programme' in the recent past. On the insistence of members and the general public will host an awareness session next week, to help in a smooth transitioning to the new tax regime.
Members from the beedi industry, garment association, fish business, restaurant and shop owners, freight transporters, and small scale industrialists were among the audience that filled the hall to capacity.