T N Ninan’s column “Should she be complaining” (Weekend Rumination, June 16) is timely. West Bengal’s tax collection efforts have been quite anaemic. In fact, the state’s tax-to-GDP ratio is less than half of Maharashtra. Its tax efforts have not been efficient or vigilant in capturing the full value of trade, services and medium-scale industries — sectors that have grown more than big industries in Bengal. Leakage points are well-known — textile, electronics, transport, metals, real estate and health care sectors. The Centre’s special help must come with certain commitments from the state to improve its tax performance. The jury is still out on the efforts of the chief minister and the finance minister to improve tax collection since last year’s collections fell way short of the target. The present government should not follow the Left’s policy of not having a Fiscal Responsibility Act and passing the Budget without a genuine discussion on budgetary allocations for various departments. Lack of debate and transparency lead to lack of discipline and accountability.
P Datta Kolkata
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