Business fraternity slams govt policy

Bhairahawa, July 17

Industrialists and entrepreneurs in Rupandehi took to the streets in Bhairahawa today to protest what they called ‘impractical’ provisions of mandatory inclusion of workers in the social security fund scheme and introduction of vehicle and consignment tracking system (VCTS).

The protest staged at the initiative of the Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industries went to the district administration office and handed a memorandum to the chief district officer to send it to the prime minister.

On the first day of introduction of the VCTS, transportation of consignments didn’t happen today.

Entrepreneurs have urged the government to take back its decision to implement the tracking system citing difficulty in implementing it due to the difficult geography of the country and technical problems related to internet service.

Further, they have warned of agitation by cosigning their vehicles to the garage if the government refuses to ease the system or withdraw its decision. “Besides, though we had to pay just 2.5 per cent TDS on freight vehicles last year, this year we are required to pay additional 13 per cent VAT, so the government must scrap the VAT to save us from the double tax whammy,” said the 16-point memorandum.

Siddhartha CCI former chairperson Krishna Prasad Sharma argued that the government’s recent provisions regarding industrialists and entrepreneurs were impractical despite the fact that the policies were meant for the good.

“The recent provisions introduced by the government could backfire as it could force industrialists and entrepreneurs to down their shutters,” Sharma reasoned.

While agitators have also demanded that the government review the mandatory provision it has introduced to deposit 15,000 to 20,000 rupees annually even for workers from third countries, they have reckoned the provision to mandatorily acquire PAN was impractical for workers who are daily wage earners and work on piecemeal rate.