The TMC's Tax Collection department has decided to provide accident insurance for the citizens who pay up their taxes
before the last date. Harischandra More, the Deputy Municipal Commissioner (DMC) in-charge of the department told The Times of Thane that the step has been taken to improve the system of tax collection. At the same time the citizens would get the benefit of paying up their taxes in the form of the insurance.

As per the proposal, the TMC would give the benefit to citizens who pay up their assessment taxes before the end of this month. By doing so the TMC would become the first civic body in the entire state to do so.

The citizens meeting the tax related requirement would be given the accident insurance certificates by the union government-owned Oriental Insurance Company Limited. The insurance prescribes for a payment of Rs 25,000 to the kin of those tax payers who died in road accidents. Accident victims who suffer double limb losses would also be covered under the scheme.

The government-owned company would charge Rs 7 per month per person for the insurance scheme. The entire cost of the policy would be borne
by the civic administration for those who pay up their entire outstanding assessment taxes before the end of this month.

More informed that the corporation had earlier enacted the scheme for slum dwellers only. The scheme was launched in the current financial year and it got tremendous response. The success of the scheme prompted the TMC to extend the scheme to the flat owners as well.

A proposal has been sent to the civic General Body (GB) House meeting to be held on February 16. The scheme would come into force as soon as the resolution is cleared don the floor of the House.

The DMC also informed that a separate tax saving scheme has been undertaken for ex service personnel as well. These former guardians of the nation would be given tax rebate to the extent of 28 per cent in their property assessment taxes.

The TMC has been finding it hard to collect taxes from the residents during the past some years. Despite the odds, the department managed to increase its tax collection revenue every year. The department has got a target of Rs 150 crore to meet for the about to be finished financial year and it has already achieved Rs 111 crore so far. The authorities hope to achieve the balance as well if the GB nod is obtained.