Guwahati: The Assam government’s decision to impose a tax on Bihu celebrations less than two months ahead of the festival has drawn criticism from some cultural organisations and the people.
The government’s new policy mandates specific fees for obtaining permissions related to activities through a portal known as 'Assam Police Sewa Setu.' In the wake of the controversy, Business North East reached out to civilians as well as stakeholders to gauge the public's reaction.
Jeetumani Deka, the cultural secretary of the Geetanagar Bihu Committee, claimed the government’s imposition of taxes is making life harder for the common man.
"Imposing a tax on cultural events is no justice," lamented the organizer. "On one hand, they (the government) promote beneficiary schemes, and on the other, they levy more and more taxes," he decried.
Most of the other civilians this outlet reached out to, on the other hand, had a more nuanced approach to the matter.
Jyotirman Narayan Deb and Sashank Baruah agreed that such initiatives may cause problems if it is a "huge amount," as "households may not be comfortable paying such expenses."
"The new taxes should not be made mandatory," said Ankur Bhuyan, another Guwahati-based man. "The state government should think of the people first and mull whether such a move could cause inconvenience."
However, Khushboo Khedawat, a chartered accountant, said that such decisions have "both negative and positive" aspects to them. "The government's decision to levy taxes on various goods and services is not really a bad decision," she weighed in.
"Tax is mandatory for the state's overall growth," said Neelav Baishya. "However, the government should only levy them on the required services and not on things like cultural beliefs," he added.
Jyotirman Bharadwaj, in unequivocal support of the move, opined that it was a step in the right direction. "Levying a tax on such things only gives them legitimacy, and they will now be a part of a database. When a Bihu function or other events and rallies are taken up, security is maintained by the state's police department. Furthermore, this amount can be generated easily, as such events receive huge amounts of funding," he asserted.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, taking to X (formerly Twitter), defended his government's move. “If we charge Rs. 300 for processing permission, it is important to note that we are allocating nearly Rs 50 crore this year for organising our traditional cultural festivals," he noted. He further pointed out that if a Bihu committee receives Rs 1.5 lakh from the government, "it is unlikely that anyone would criticise us for collecting Rs 300 for the state exchequer."
Going forward, apart from cultural functions, the Assam government will also levy taxes on political rallies, sporting events, street plays, trade fairs, petrol pumps and gas agencies, worker verification, rented quarter verification, and clearance for commercial construction. The official notification, however, clarified that a few services, such as filing e-complaints, e-FIRs, passports, and permission to hold religious events, will be exempted from taxation.
ALSO READ: Tripura handloom, handicrafts, and sericulture have immense potential: Director Tarun Debbarma
FIRST Business Portal addressing the potential of business capability of North East Region.
