Public Contributions To Drive Swacch Bharat Campaign
BANGALORE: The cabinet has enabled certain provisions to allow the channeling of funds from both individuals and companies for one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s favorite proposals, the Swacch Bharat campaign. The contributions will be awarded tax exemptions.
This follows remarks by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that there would be a 100 percent tax deductions for people who contribute to the scheme in any way apart from Corporate Social Responsibility donations. "Most of the fund will be channelised to construct toilets," the minister said.
In the year 2014-2015, 50 lakh toilets were constructed; however, this is still short of the ultimate target of six crores. The Finance Minister reassured members of Parliament that the goal of building six crore toilets would be reached.
On Independence Day last year, Narendra Modi announced that the objective of a clean India would be attained by the year 2019, through the Swacch Bharat Kosh, commemorating thehundred and fiftieth birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. While the fund was launched in November last, the Cabinet made some final approvals recently to make it operational.
Meanwhile, the Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das has stated at an industry function that, if there is a need, the Swachh Bharat cess of up to two per cent would be implemented from the date of notification. He added that it is not that all services would draw the cess, but that the government will be sensitive of its effects on various sectors of services.
