The GST launch event was a glittering event that unfolded at the Central Hall of the Indian Parliament. The Midnight of Friday, July 1st, 2017, was an event that was etched into public memory for decades to come. Newspapers, Social Media, Online News forums and all channels of traditional and modern media gave primetime as well as 24*7 coverage to the event. Time and again GST has enjoyed trending #hashtags as well as the public has consumed numerous editorials, primetime shows and circus debates on the same. It is now one year since the GST was rolled out, and an RTI response from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has left many eyes rolling if not all.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting while responding to an RTI revealed that a total sum of Rs 132.38 crores was spent on GST Promotions. The Bureau of Outreach and Communications, working under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, gave this information on 9th August.
The information further states that Rs 1,26,93,97,121 was spent on GST advertisements that were part of Journals which are in circulation across the length and breadth of India. Electronic Media received no part of GST advertisement budget. Instead, Rs. 5,44,35,502 was spent on the promotion via advertisement channels like newspapers etc.
Hence, GST advertisements are good and the increase in taxpayer base post VAT has been commendable. But the number of taxpayers in the country is still minimal and rather than a great advertisement budget, a better and simpler return filing form for the taxpayers will truly make taxpayers appreciate Government’s effort to ensure a good and simple tax for one and all. The new simple form could be officially adopted in the upcoming Goa Meet of the GST Council and will be launched by the next year.
India is a developing country, and it should be a major concern for all of us when our government is choosing to spend this much money on simply promoting something rather than improving it.
