YES, WE CAN – DDT is 1000
When TIOL started this Column, even our most ardent supporters did not give us a chance for more than a hundred editions. “What will you write every day and that too on taxation?” was the doubt expressed by many.
We started with the sole intention of translating into understandable English the notifications, circulars, clarifications, amendments and several other forms of laws which torment the tax payer. Today complying with tax laws is more difficult than paying taxes and understanding the tax laws is almost an impossible task. Through DDT, we planned to build a bridge between the North Block and the multitude of tax payers; but after we started construction, we realised that North Block alone is not enough; there are many other Blocks and Bhavans which actually block information and leave the tax payer in perpetual confusion. Then we realised that a simple bridge is not enough, but we have to build complicated flyovers and walkovers.
Though there was initial resistance from the Authorities in Government, slowly many of them realised that what we do help them too. DDT claims no great success in changing the laws, though many a time the Government was very responsive and several issues have been resolved, but the basic purpose of bringing to you the law as it unfolds, has been to a large extend appreciated. A senior officer told me, “you have made us lazy; now we don't need to read anything other than DDT to keep ourselves well informed about what is happening”. It is not as if it was bouquets all through; we had our share of brickbats and there were occasions when on the same issue both the Revenue officers and the assessees were unhappy with our views.
DDT is not supposed to be a column to criticise the Government; it is all about informing and if possible correcting lapses – to make the life of both the tax payer and the tax collector less miserable. We are very positive and incorrigibly optimistic and to quote Obama again, And where we are met with cynicism and doubt and fear and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up our spirit in three simple words -- yes, we can.
It is not always easy to get information from the maze of Government and somehow the babus are very reluctant to part with even public notifications. This is something we have perhaps inherited from the British Rulers. In “Yes, Minister”, the Minister asks his Secretary about the people working in the Department and he replies, "Well briefly, Sir, I am the Permanent Under Secretary of State, known as the Permanent Secretary. Woolley here is your Principal Private Secretary, I too have a Principal Private Secretary and he is the Principal Private Secretary to the Permanent Secretary. Directly responsible to me are 10 Deputy Secretaries, 87 Under Secretaries and 219 Assistant Secretaries. Directly responsible to the Principal Private Secretary are plain Private Secretaries, and the Prime Minister will be appointing 2 Parliamentary Under Secretaries and you will be appointing your own Parliamentary Private Secretary."
The Minister asks, "Do they all type?"
In Government, Restricted means it was in the papers yesterday. Confidential means it won't be in the papers until today. “Under consideration” means they lost the file, under active consideration means they are trying to find it.
Democracy is all about asking the government awkward questions and government is all about not answering them.
The tremendous feedback which we receive everyday with a mix of praise and flak serves as a reminder for us to be on our toes while bringing you the latest in the field of taxation. With the same zeal and enthusiasm we bring to you today our 1000th version of DDT. TIOL sincerely thanks all the netizens for their kind hearted support all through the 1000 DDTs.
Just before midnight, I had a surprise visit from two friends who came with a bouquet and a cake to celebrate DDT 1000.
DDT 1000 — the image was hosted by the publisher and was not captured.DDT 1000 — the image was hosted by the publisher and was not captured.DDT 1000 — the image was hosted by the publisher and was not captured.DDT is grateful to all the Netizens for the tremendous support and the government for making it possible. YES WE CAN.