Who cares about CAG report?

The financial crisis is choking the state to penury and the main fault is attributed to the ineptness shown in collecting tax and persistent failure in collecting dues. These flubs are often mentioned in the Auditor general’s report submitted to the assembly from time to time.

People are striving to make ends meet without sufficient money for daily expenses. Adding more worries to this weakened state, the tax money that should have reached the exchequer is still not collected. It is true that sometimes the CAG reports tend to be biased. However, this doesn’t take of the fact that there is a lapse in tax collection and collection of arrears, and this deserves all brickbats and criticism. Likewise, the money spent by the exchequer should also be accounted for, but these are seldom followed.

Twenty-five per cent of the state's revenue remains uncollected while wasteful spending continues. This ham-handed work from various department are contributing to the plunge in the economy. The CAG report for 2021-22 was tabled in the House on Thursday. The report enumerates the government's failures and mismanagement in tax and dues collection. Many ineligible people have hitherto made it into the pension scheme, which was touted as the largest social security scheme introduced by the left government. It is accused that the welfare pension scheme also included many government employees who wriggled it into the list breaking all ounces of propriety.

Meanwhile, in another fraud committed, some people are receiving the pension amount for people who have died, and this is a result of failure in mustering. It is shocking to notice that all such swindling happens at a time when Aadhar is being gloated as the protective blanket that stymies all frauds. The system of pension disbursement through cooperative banks has also led to irregularities at least on a small scale.

It is not advisable to look for other ways when there is a mechanism for direct payment of pension amount to the beneficiary's bank account. A separate company has been formed only for the distribution of welfare pensions. It has been pointed out in the CAG report that the company incurred an additional cost of Rs 1600 crore due to borrowing more than the required amount. With the introduction of GST, tax collection was expected to turn easier but the state still suffered a huge revenue shortfall. GST arrears have now mounted up to Rs 13410 crore.

Although the electricity board collects the fee from the consumers directly, no big sum has reached into the government’s coffers. The Motor Vehicle Department, Registration Department and Revenue Department are lagging far behind in the collection of dues.

The government is happy to pile all the blame on the central government for the financial muddle. But what about the negligence shown in collecting money, that should have reached the exchequer? The collection of taxes and rents is hampered by various pressures and interests. When the CAG report becomes public, it is sure to turn into a hot topic within a few days.

It is a strictly adhered practice to instil fear and then shame people by sending notice if there are any dues in house fees, electricity or land-related fees. But the same vigil government officials will adorn servile feathers when meting out the same treatment with powerful people in the state. The politicians need them and will work any means to curry favour these topguns. So the pertinent question remains, Who cares about the CAG report?