In T N Ninan’s column “Learn from Singapore” (Weekend Ruminations, December 15), the writer recommends appreciating the honest taxpayer. That can be done. But we need to follow Singapore’s example in the same way. We need to create awareness, make procedures to collect tax at source as far as possible, and find new ways to encourage tax payment. In India, people are attracted to lucky draw contests. We can introduce a scheme by which one in a block of some thousand account numbers wins a prize every year. At the same time, tax evaders should be dealt with seriously and punished.
Jacob Sahayam Thiruvananthapuram
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number