GST is fine example of collective strength of people of India: PM

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi on July 30, 2017, said that flood affected areas in Assam, North-East, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Bengal were being closely monitored and relief operations have been undertaken on a mssive scale.

“Wherever possible, my colleagues in the Council of Ministers are also personally visiting affected areas. The state governments too are making maximum possible efforts on their part to provide relief to the flood affected people. Life goes completely topsy-turvy as a result of the floods. Crops, livestock, infrastructure, roads, electricity, communication links – everything gets affected. In particular, our farmer brethren have to bear a lot of losses because of the damage to their crops and fields. Therefore, we have formulated a scheme for the insurance companies, especially crop insurance companies, to make them more proactive, to ensure quick settlements of claims for farmers. A 24×7 control room helpline number 1078 is functioning continuously to deal with the flood situation,” PM Modi said in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

Before the monsoons, the entire government machinery was brought into a state of preparedness through mock drills undertaken at most of the places. NDRF teams were deployed. Aapada Mitra, or Friends during disaster were identified at various places and these were then trained in the Do’s and Don’ts, volunteers were enlisted, and a people’s organisation set up to work in this situation, the PM said.

“Weather forecasts are available these days and the concerned technology has become so advanced these days, and space science also plays a very big role, that these weather forecasts turn out to be mostly accurate now. We should also gradually make it our nature to set our work patterns according to the weather predictions, which could safeguard us against losses,” PM Modi said.

The PM said it has been one month since GST was implemented and its benefits can be seen already. ” I feel very happy and satisfied when a poor person writes to say how because of GST prices of various items essential for him have come down, and commodities have become cheaper,” he said.

The PM said in the GST regime doing business had become so much easier. And most important of all, the trust of customers in the traders is increasing. The GST has impacted the transport and logistics sector. ” The time required to cover distances has come down drastically. Highways have become clutter-free. Pollution levels have come down with the increased speeds of the trucks. Goods are also being transported much faster. Earlier, because of the multiple tax structures, maximum resources of the transport and logistics sector were expended in maintaining paperwork and that also led to the need for construction of new warehouses in each state. I call GST, Good and Simple Tax. Indeed, it has produced a big positive effect on our economy in a very short time span.  And using the GST App all information is available on your mobile phone as to how much the price of an item was earlier and how much will it be now in the new situation. The lofty dream of One Nation – One Tax has finally been fulfilled,” the PM said.

The PM said the GST is a fine example of the collective strength of the people of India. This is a historic achievement. And this is not just a tax reform, it is a new economic order that will strengthen a new culture of honesty, he said.