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Sanjay Bhatiaji You Are Truly Honourable
Saprem Namaskar
When I took up the charge of this Association in
July, some of my seniors expressed “Mr. Bapat, your tenure would be crucial as
the time has started now for the actual implementation of VAT and as the
bureaucrats cannot digest any criticism, you must take every step very
carefully”. At that juncture I recalled the following words of Dr. A P J Abdul
Kalam from his Autography “Wings of Fire”.
“If you want to leave your footprints
On the sands of time
Do not drag your feet”
The above words gave me the strength to write
fearlessly what honestly I felt as correct and Sir, you really deserve the
Honour for the manner in which you responded to our critical write up in the
last month regarding notices to almost all dealers for submitting copies of
Returns right from the inception of VAT till Date and for Business Audit with
threat of prosecution. I am sure you must have heard the saying of Saint Tukaram
“Nindakache Ghar Asawe Shejari”. In the past there were several instances where
this Association was misunderstood by some of your predecessors; but you are
amongst few exceptionals, who honestly tried to understand the object behind our
critical approach.
As there was persistent demand from our members
for some guidance from the Association regarding the aforesaid notices, an
urgent Study Circle Meeting was organized by us on 7th February, 2008 in the
presence of our eminent past presidents Shri P.V. Surte, Shri S.S.Gaitonde and
Shri P.C.Joshi wherein it was unanimously resolved to take strong and uniform
steps in case the discussion with the Department fails.
However upon my request, you immediately gave us
the time for a meeting with our Law & Representation Committee. In the said
meeting you gave us ample time for explaining the views of the Association not
only on the above-mentioned issues, but in overall implementation and
administration of VAT. Further you have assured us to form a working group under
your Chairmanship consisting of STPAM and departmental officials. This great
approach of yours prompted us to decide, not to proceed with the impugned
resolution and, therefore, we say
“Sanjay Bhatiaji You Are Truly Honourable.”
Under the current scenario, it would not be out of
place, if I reproduce the following words of Dr Kalam from “Wings of Fire” in
the similar situation.
"Most of the time, communication gets confused
with conversation. In fact, the two are distinctly different. I was (and am) a
terrible conversationalist but consider myself a good communicator. A
conversation full of pleasantries is most often devoid of any useful information
whereas communication is meant only for the exchange of information. It is very
important to realize that communication is a two-party affair which aims at
passing on or receiving a specific piece of information.
While working on the SLV, I used communication to
promote understanding and to come to an agreement with colleagues in defining
the problems that existed and in identifying the action necessary to be taken to
solve them. Authentic communication was one of the tools skilfully used in
managing the project. How did I do that? To begin with, I tried to be factual
and never sugarcoated the bitter pill of facts. At one of the Space Science
Council (SSC) review meetings, frustrated by the procurement delays. I erupted
into an agitated complaint against the indifference and red-tape tactics of the
Controller of Accounts and Financial Advisor of VSSC. I insisted that the
systems of works followed by the accounts staff had to change and demanded the
delegation of their functions to the project team. Dr. Bramh Prakash was taken
aback by the bluntness of my submission. He stubbed out his cigarette and walked
out of the meeting.
I spend the whole night regretting the pain my
harsh words had caused Dr. Brahm Prakash. However, I was determined to fight the
inertia built into the system before I found myself being dragged down with it.
I asked myself a practical question: could one live with these insensitive
bureaucrats? The answer was big No. Then I asked myself a private question: What
would hurt Dr. Bramh Prakash more, my seemingly harsh words now, or the burial
of the SLV at a later stage? Finding my head and heart agreeing, I prayed to God
for help. Fortunately for me, Dr. Bramh Prakash delegated financial powers to
the project the next morning.”
Sir, on the above background, if one can liberate
Sales Tax Department from the self-created image of being mere data-collectors
and Bosses of tax-payers, then only It can implement indigenously developed
technology of business management where customer is always right and attains
excellent returns. To do this, we should adopt a three-fold strategy of
multi-institutional participation, consortium approach, and the empowering
technology.
Sir, believe me, “ the STPAM is a unique
Association which right from its inception have acted only for the betterment of
Sales Tax Administration and educating both the sides viz. Departmental
Officials on one side and the Sales Tax Practitioners and Business community on
the other and never have fought for satisfying any selfish and un-necessary
demand of its members.
We assure, our all time co-operation to you in
fulfilling the great responsibility you have at this critical time.
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
Deepak Bapat
President |
