EFFORTS TO TAKE DECISIONS ON BASIS OF SUGGESTIONS FROM TRADE AND INDUSTRY RELIEF TO ALL THROUGH E-GOVERNANCE & SIMPLIFICATION OF PROCEDURES (Ashok Ghelot C. M. Rajasthan)
The Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot said that State Government takes many decisions on the basis of the important suggestions put forward by the industry and trade people, while preparing the budget of the state. He said that every year the meeting of the State Level Tax Advisory Committee was convened before the budget so as to ensure that the traders and industrialists do not face problems and various procedures be simplified.
Shri Gehlot was presiding over the inaugural session of the State Level Tax Advisory Committee meeting held at Secretariat here on Wednesday. He said that it had always been the effort of the State Government that decisions be taken on the basis of the suggestions of representatives of industry and trade.
The Chief Minister said that the revenue of the state was over Rs.8,904 crores in the year 2008-09, which increased to Rs.15,766 crores in the year 2011-12 and an increase of 177 percent was registered during this period. He said that this had been made possible by the efforts made by the State Government with the cooperation from the trade and industry. He informed that revenue worth Rs.15,045 crores had been collected upto January this year, which was 18 percent more as compared to the last year during the period.
Shri Gehlot said that today was the age of Information Technology. There had been an IT revolution in the country and in this situation good governance was not possible without e-governance. He said that slowly and gradually IT was being used through computers and returns been made online, which had made a positive impact. He said that the State Government had taken important decisions in this direction, which had simplified procedures and at the same time desired relief provided to the traders. He said that intention of the State Government was that the traders and entrepreneurs get full honour from the government and the society and from this point of view these steps had been taken. He congratulated the entrepreneurs who achieved first position in 10 different categories on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that today an environment of development had been created in Rajasthan as a result of which we have implemented Flagship schemes and other social security schemes in all the sectors. He said that this had been made possible with the cooperation of people of all sectors including the trade and industry. He reiterated that his government would work with transparency, responsiveness and accountability. For this all the Ministers, public representatives, officers, employees and the people included in the system would have to work in total cooperation, than only we would be able to provide good governance to the people.
Shri Gehlot said that he was proud of the fact that there had been continuous increase in the revenue in the state as a result of the schemes implemented in Rajasthan. He said that today the state was exploring oil, which also was affecting Rajasthan in a big way and serious efforts were being made to setup a refinery in the state. He said that continuous dialogue has been made with UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Petroleum Minister, Shri Veerappa Moily. He said that earlier there was a talk of setting 4.5 million tonne refinery but now the talk was about of 9 million tonne refinery. He said that twenty percent of the total oil production of the country would be from Rajasthan and over Rs. 35 to 40 thousand crore investment was expected in the state. Keeping this in view the State Government was making all efforts for the refinery.
The Chief Minister said that how all types of revenue sources be viewed, in this we get the cooperation of trade and industry and than planning was done. He said that the financial position of states had improved after the formation of UPA Government at the Center. He said that the efforts taken with the cooperation of all had resulted in the increase in revenue, simplification of procedures and abolition of Inspector Raj in the state. He said that ‘Gutkha’ was banned in the state, which affected a revenue of Rs.100 to 125 crores.
Shri Gehlot said that subsidy of Rs.25 per cylinder was being given in LPG with the view to provide relief to the common man. Similarly Rs.50 crores had been provided by exempting kerosene tax. He said that a total relief of Rs. 720 crore including Rs.370 crore relief on petrol and diesel had been provided to the common man.
He requested the entrepreneurs and industrialists to give the important suggestions using the expertise on the development of industries in DMIC and Freight Corridor which would be useful for the future.
The Industry Minister, Shri Rajendra Pareek, the Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board, Shri V.S. Vyas, Chief Secretary, Shri C.K. Mathew, representatives from trade and industry and concerned officials were present in meeting.
