Eunuchs have now come to the aid of civic authorities here in helping recover taxes from habitual defaulters.

The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has currently engaged half a dozen eunuchs to collect outstanding dues amounting to millions of rupees.

"We have been using the services of eunuchs for the past two days to collect taxes and the response is tremendous," said a senior PMC official Thursday.

"Thanks to them, we have collected Rs.500,000 worth of dues from habitual defaulters Wednesday alone," he said.

After having failed to collect taxes from defaulters despite using force, the corporation thought of this innovative method.

"Eunuchs are known for their unique skill of collecting money by going from house to house. They often embarrass people who refuse to pay and would use their skills to recover outstanding dues," the official said.

"Eunuchs, along with musical troupes stage sit-ins in front of defaulters' houses until they agree to pay taxes," he added.

The PMC will pay the eunuchs a four percent commission for their services.

The PMC's annual tax collection target is around Rs.600 million, but due to habitual defaulters it collects only around Rs.150-200 million.