Govt plans big campaign on GST publicity

As the ‘one nation one tax’ regime or the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is set for introduction on July 1, the Narendra Modi government plans to launch a massive campaign by deploying one minister from the Union Cabinet in each state of the country to spread awareness and address issues related to the new tax regime.

The elected representatives will propagate the benefits of the new system, especially in rural India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to address the nation first in the joint sitting of Parliament on the night of June 30 and July 1 evening at another event, where he is expected to list the benefits of ‘one nation one tax’ regime.

Arrangements have also been made for viewing of the Prime Minister’s speeches and the rollout programme of the GST in all state capitals. The government is understood to have also decided to deploy its ministers and MPs to tour the nation, especially rural areas, and make the common man and business community

◗ Centre to deploy one Cabinet minister in each state to spread awareness and address issues related to new tax

aware about the benefits of the new tax regime.

The plan is also to launch a massive contact programme to explain the technicalities of the legislation to the masses through the media.

“Through this awareness campaign, the Narendra Modi government hopes to drive home the point that while the earlier UPA regime was unable to implement the GST, the NDA has evolved a consensus on the issue and bring the nation under a single taxation regime,” sources added.

Orientation sessions and workshops by taxation experts, for clearing doubts regarding the GST, may be conducted throughout the country, sources added.

The move comes at a time when the NDA regime is already eyeing the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and its successful implementation will be highlighted as a major policy initiative.