Respecte
P CHIDAMBARAM
Subject:
Education cess
I fail to understand what the education cess achieves. It is collected at the rate of 2% (proposed to be raised to 3% in this budget) on various direct taxes.
How, pray tell, does the honourable Finance Minister use the funds collected? Especially related to education?
To build more schools for the poor or not-so-poor?
To pay teachers' salaries in existing educational institutions (schools / colleges / universities)?
To promote education in backward / rural areas?
Even for the mid-day meals for poor schoolchildren?
Or, for that matter, to fund the ill-conceived ideas for reservations in higher education?
The answer is, none of the above.
So, where does the money collected (extorted?) from taxpayers in the name of the noble cause of education go?
The answer is, the General Pool.
Meaning that it forms part of that vast unaccounted pile that is wasted on vote-buying schemes, or lining politicians' pockets.
Is this not similar to the neighbourhood goonda who suddenly turns sanctimonious and collects funds for a "Sarvajanik Durga Pooja" or "Ganeshotsav" or "Navratri" or whatever and uses the donations collected to be wasted on liquor, dance bars, partying, or similar vices?
Honourable Finance Minister, you have been looting us in the name of charity. At least, please account for the money collected, and kindly desist from looting us some more.
Taxpayers would be more than glad if their hard-earned money is actually used for the supposedly virtuous purposes for which it is collected.
Else, the Education Cess must go, and the money already collected refunded to long-suffering taxpayers.
Yours Sincerely,
Jaidev Gaitonde
United States
2007-02-28
Budget 2006