Whispers Forum

Much ado about nothing
PM, FM and others are conveying the impression that India's faceless assessment, faceless appeal and taxpayers' charter are unique in the world and great innovations. This is not true. In fact this is the normal system in all civilised countries of the world; only that it is not called 'faceless'. In civilised countries there is just one organisation with no territorial offices milking the public. There are no revenue targets, only estimates. In India ITOs are spread all over the country. In the districts their main job is to provide hospitality to visiting senior officers by looting the shopkeepers. All these offices need to be abolished. Taxpayer's charter is useless because (unlike the law relating to Right to Information Act) it does not provide for any punishment to income tax personnel who violate the law. No outside independent agency is monitoring their activities. Undoubtedly, the old system was absurd and had to go away. We are doing what civilised countries have done decades earlier. There is nothing to crow about.
Prof. N. C. Saxena

DEBATE
Hardly matters : India may not qualify for development aid. Hence Indians should not worry about the party which is more inclined to give such an aid. Regarding the immigration of Indians or outsourcing to India, both parties may consider the US interest first. (Those Indians who are already the citizens of the US also don’t want that much of new immigration or outsourcing). Both parties may rise some noise regarding human rights violations (like religious violence, rapes, etc.,) in India, but these may not lead to any substantial actions. Presidents of the US and PMs of India may develop some friendly relationships irrespective of the persons who occupy these positions.
Syed Nasir Ali
CGHS: Teleconsultation started
Minister of Health & family welfare deserves whole heartedly appreciations for introducing teleconsultation services for CGHS beneficiaries. It is done professionally as well as administratively. Well done Sir, It will resolve many problems of Sr. Citizens. Medicines are required to be collected from wellness centres, it is ok in normal days but if purchase is permitted till the situation becomes normal due to Covid-19, it will be great help. Thanks for doing National Service.
Naveen.
It is no child’s play to make Toys
I was disappointed to listen to the Prime Minister’s views on toys and toy making. I am compelled to bring to his kind notice what I know as a former civil servant: toy making is a sophisticated industry. First the industry was reserved for the SSI; then came a brilliant economist who abrogated the reserved list and opened the toy industry to all sectors of the Indian economy. In the 30th year of that de-reservation, we are listening to the Hon’ble Prime Minister about the prospects of the toy industry and potential of the Indian MSME. The toys displayed are enough for “dilbahalane ke liye” but neither satisfy a child’s curiosity nor develop his talent. I wish the PM had also displayed half a dozen toys sold last Christmas and the new toys for which orders have already been booked. It is not enough that the wooden toys on display are well rounded so as not to hurt the child but the paint on them is hazardous for the health of the children. The figures take today’s children to the ancient India (when India was supposed to be the viswaguru!) without connecting them to the modern world. The weight of the toys also needs to be calculated as per the age of the child. Besides, the children throw the toy their parents give them if they don’t like it since the logic of the Gurudev story narrated by the PM works on their impressionable minds. Indian children, Sir, no longer love Premchand’s Idgah but … the Animation Industry will be better to state the facts. Toying with the idea of developing a 7 lakh Crore or more toy industry to make India Atmanirbhar is no child’s play. Let us invest heavily in R&D for the toy industry to use it as a powerful tool of child education and entertainment. The wrist-watch industry is another example of our past efforts towards self-reliance! The Prime Minister must be fed up to date information only, failing which exporter countries like China will laugh “vidrup ki hansi”.
M L Gupta