The GST knowledge training is the top most priority of every state government and the center is also making every effort to create awareness on the same issue. Recently taking the example of Gujarat government, which is taking every possible action towards the smooth and responsible implementation of the new tax regime. The state governments have started a public awareness campaign and also its commercial tax department (VAT) along with the services, customs and excise and industry associations are set to launch a training facility drive in order to educate and fit all the trader’s community within the GST knowledge.
The training campaign will be expanding and covering more than 200 talukas of Gujarat and the main objective behind the drive is to share knowledge and make the trader’s community, business running entities, small and large industries acquainted with the know-how of the upcoming goods and services tax in India.
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Arti Kanwar, special commissioner, commercial tax, Gujarat was there too brief over this mass acknowledging sharing campaign and told the media that, “We will start the training initiative from April 15 as part of a public outreach program. Several associations like Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and bar associations will participate in this program. Training related to different aspects of GST will be offered to people in 250-odd talukas.”
A number of the concerned meeting has been held previously and still, the decision regarding the number of teams which are to be engaged in this drive is pending and yet to be concluded. The training session, however, got some attention and the respective bodies have been able, to sum up, the training sessions by May 31, 2017. On the other side, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has been aligned accordingly with the GST coming halfway as the department has been name changed to Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
Talking about the authorities available in the geography of Gujarat, it states that, there will be two GST zones in Gujarat, Ahmedabad, and Vadodara. There will be 9 GST commissioners, one each at Ahmedabad-South, Ahmedabad-North, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Kutch (Gandhidham), Vadodara-I, Vadodara-II, and Surat. Also, there will be three sub-commissioners, at Jamnagar, Anand, and Bharuch. According to government data, the proposed number of GST divisions and ranges in Gujarat is 73 and 366 respectively. Apart from this, there will be four audit commissioners and the same number of appeal commissioners.
Shailesh Patwari, senior vice president of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) cleared the issue in the statement saying, “Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has also been roped in. The training will be provided by teams comprising representatives from the industry association, VAT, excise, custom and service departments, Sales Tax Bar Association and chartered accountants.”
