PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
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MOS FOR FINANCE (REVENUE) ASKS TAX ADMINISTRATORS TO BE TAX PAYER
FRIENDLY, TRANSPARENT AND PLAY THE ROLE OF FACILITATOR; CONFERS
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD OF APPRECIATION ON 37 OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND
CENTRAL EXCISE DEPARTMENT
New Delhi, February 24, 2014
Phalguna 5 , 1935
Shri J.D. Seelam, Minister of State for Finance (Revenue) said that the tax officials should act as
a facilitator rather than tax administrators. He said that there is a need to widen the tax base.
There is need to simplify the tax procedure and make it more transparent, he added. He said that
tax administration needs to be tax payer friendly. Shri Seelam said that tax system should be
stable so that entrepreneurs know well in advance about his tax liabilities etc. and make a
provision for the same. He asked the Customs and Central Excise officers to frequently interact
with all stakeholders, become facilitator and change the public perception about their
organisation. He said that tax payment needs to be made a ,,Status Symbol in order to encourage
tax payers to make tax payment voluntarily.
Shri Seelam was speaking at a function organized here today to mark the Central Excise Day and
to hold the Annual Investiture Ceremony for conferment of Presidential Award of Appreciation
on officers of the Customs and Central Excise Department, who have been awarded on the eve of
the Republic Day, 2013. Shri Seelam, Minister of State for Finance (Revenue) was the Chief
Guest on the occasion and Shri Sumit Bose, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Revenue) was the
Guest of Honour. The function was also attended by Chairperson, CBEC, Members of the Board
and the retired Chairmen and Members of the Board, senior officers of the CBDT, both retired
and serving, probationers, representatives of trade and media among others.
Shri Seelam, MoS for Finance later presented the Appreciation Certificates to the thirty
seven (37) officers who were conferred the award for "Specially Distinguished Record of
Service" in 2013. He extended his compliments to the recipients and their family members who
were present in large number. He lauded the role of the Department in trade facilitation and
enforcement laying special emphasis on its contribution to the national exchequer.
Earlier addressing the gathering, Shri Sumit Bose, Finance Secretary and Secretary
(Revenue) dwelt upon the purpose of commemorating this day and expressed his satisfaction at
the pace with which the Central Excise Act has adopted itself to the changes in the Indian
Economy. He said that tax laws and procedures over the years were modified to keep pace with
the changes in the economy and in order to facilitate the trade. He impressed upon the role
played by the Act in creating an enabling environment to sustain the momentum in the economic
growth of the country. Shri Bose lauded the initiative of CBEC in implementation of several e-
governance projects, especially, the implementation of ACES on the excise side. He asked the
tax officials to be open, transparent, tax payer friendly and honest in their dealings. He also
exhorted the officers to emulate the sincerity and hard work of 37 awardees.
Earlier in her Welcome Address, Ms. J.M. Shanti Sundharam, Chairperson,
CBEC expressed her sense of pride in being a part of such an occasion. While congratulating the
37 awardees, she made a special mention of the sacrifices made by their families so that the
officers could wholeheartedly devote themselves to their official duties.
On the occasion, a short film depicting the evolvement of Central Excise Department
over the last 70 years was also shown.
The Presidential Award of Appreciation Certificates is announced annually in two
categories "exceptionally meritorious services rendered at the risk of life" and "specially
distinguished record of service." The said awards were introduced in 1962 to give recognition to
officers of Customs, Central Excise, Service Tax, Enforcement and Narcotics.
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