New Delhi: After undertaking a slew of measures to combat black money instances in the national and international arena, the Income Tax department has decided to catch the imagination of school-going children for creating awareness on the issue and building a social deterrence against such crimes.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex policy making body of the I-T department, has asked its field officers to visit schools and educational institutes and address students on the onerous responsibility of a good citizen to pay his or her due taxes to the government and inform them about the ills of black money either during their morning assembly or while taking lessons in classroom.
A strategy paper notified by the CBDT for the working of the department during the financial year 2015-16 has asked I-T regional heads to depute "young and dynamic officers/officials to visit schools to talk to children during morning assemblies or otherwise, may be with powerpoint presentation, and using historical stories to show how the concept of taxation is a very old one and also how/why it is relevant even today."
"The officers should emphasise how a rupee gained or collected by way of taxes is utlilised towards development of the country leading to nation building. The officers should discuss the importance of taxation and menace of black money or the parallel economy," the latest directive to the I-T officials said.
A senior official said the directives are meant to be "seriously" undertaken by the department and a compliance report in this regard will also be sought from them by the CBDT.
"While we undertake a number of steps on the policy side, it is also essential to tell the generation next about the evils of black economy and at the same time their and their near and dear ones' responsibilities as citizens of the country to pay taxes. A young invigorated mind will go a long way in addressing the issue of tax evasion in the country and they will be instrumental in setting the moral compass of the society in this regard," the official explained.
The CBDT has asked the taxman to target school going children and college freshers between the age of 16-18 and even invite them for lectures or awareness sessions in tax department offices.
The Board has also instructed I-T field offices to include all kinds of schools in their area of responsibility - government, private and convent - under this drive which is aimed to cover students from "all strata of society".
"The 'catch them young' mantra will give rich dividends to the country on this subject. As the agency tasked to enforce tax laws in the country, the Income Tax department is the most suitable agency to take the message of creating a good tax regime to its young citizens," the official added.
The issue of black money generation and the challenge of curbing it has been one of the priority areas for the government which has recently passed a new law on the issue and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by the Supreme Court to deal with such cases.
