NACEN organizes Budget Seminar - We have done a Good Job - Chairman
NATIONAL Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) organized the National Budget Seminar on 15 th April 2011 at its campus in Faridabad. The Seminar was attended by more than 250 officers from all over the country, including the Chairman, CBEC and two Members of the CBEC, YG Parande and Lalitha John and the real Budget makers - the Joint Secretaries in TRU - Vivek Johri and VK Garg.
The Chairman explained the process of budget making - for the uninitiated and he said that somebody who works in TRU is looked up with respect, virtually inviting the large number of probationers present to consider TRU as a prize posting. The Chairman informed his officers that for the first time in this year's budget, the FM's Core Team included the Chairmen of the CBDT and CBEC. Earlier this team consisted of the Secretaries in the Finance Ministry. The Chairman explained the changes made in the CENVAT Credit Rules and the salient features of the Point of Taxation rules. The Chairman claimed that the Board had done a GOOD JOB and he requested the co-operation of the field officers. While concluding, the Chairman reminded the officers that “this is your Board”, and “if you do not like or do not agree with some of the decisions of the Board, you should bring it to the notice of the Board, instead of going public; there should be some discipline in this.” [ Sometime back a Chief Commissioner addressing a Trade Chamber was asked whether the chamber can send in a representation through the Chief Commissioner. The candid Chief Commissioner replied, “I am only a subordinate officer to the Board and they don't treat my letters seriously; it will be more fruitful if you can send your representation directly or through an MP!” ]
The Member, Budget, YG Parande made concluding remarks where he mentioned about Anna Hazare and Corruption.
Was the Seminar useful? While many of the probationers, ready to join the field in a few weeks were quite confused about the whole affair, there was near unanimous opinion that this was the first time that a Chairman actually interacted with the officers after a budget - many of the officers did not really expect the Chairman to know much about the Budget changes and they were pleasantly surprised to see a Chairman explaining minute details of the Budget - they would have been elated if he could spend a little more time with them.