‘GST, a leap towards growth’

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 16

“Goods and Services Tax (GST) is like an old wine in a new bottle”. “GST has brought one nation under one market and single tax”. “GST is a stint for transparency and robust economy”. These were the views emanating during The Tribune Inter-College Debate 2018. The event was held at Apeejay Institute of Management, Technical campus, here today.

Twenty students from 10 colleges of the city took part in the debate competition and justified their views for and against the topic “GST- Has it benefitted the Indian Economy”.

The event which was organised by The Tribune trust, was presided over by Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma as the chief guest. GST Commissioner Daljeet Kaur was the guest of honour. The students, while speaking in favour and against the topic, were judged by Monika Sharma from GNA University, Phagwara and Dr Sanjay Prasad Pandey from Lovely Professional University.

While speaking against the motion, the students argued that the government introduced GST in a very haphazard manner. It was a wrong step at a wrong time and more of like a colour to any blind person said the students. Arman Gill, a participant from DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology, while speaking against the motion, further explained, “There are too many complications in the tax slabs. Since the time GST has been introduced, prices of the items of basic needs such as mobile phones and sanitary products have become quite costly. Rather than introducing any tax reforms it has led to an increase in taxes.”

Similarly, while speaking in favour of the GST, Gehna Kundra of Apeejay College of Fine Arts quoted that GST has abolished all the indirect taxes such as excise duty, VAT, sales tax and service tax. Ishpreet Kaur also added how under GST, the centre has the power to levy the Central GST (CGST), and state to levy the State GST (SGST) on the supply of goods and services within a state.

The first position was bagged by Gehna Kundra, while Priya Kaushal (KMV College) and Arman Gill (DAVIET) won second and third prizes, respectively. Ishpreet Kaur (Apeejay Institute of Management Technical Campus), Navjot Kaur (HMV College) and Ankita Nair (Lyallpur Khalsa College) received the consolation prizes.

Judge Monika Sharma from GNA University said though the students are aware of the GST, there was still a confusion about why this new tax system was made and what actually falls under it. This debate competition has given them an insight into the concept of GST.

DC Varinder Kumar Sharma said, “GST is a reformatory tax that would go a long way in scripting new success story in economic history of the country.” Addressing the students, he said this tax would give the much needed fillip to the overall economic growth of the country. It was a big transformation that was needed for putting the country further on a high growth trajectory and this single taxation system was the need of the hour for further streamlining of the economic system.

GST Commissioner Daljeet Kaur apprised the students of the benefits of this tax and said though there were some teething problems in the implementation of this taxation system, this would be overcome soon. She added that after initial hiccups, this would prove to be a leap towards growth.