Bhubaneswar, Feb 26: Odisha has won Gold in two categories under the 2nd National Taxation Awards for the year 2021.
The award was received by Sushil Kumar Lohani, Commissioner of CT & GST, Odisha on behalf of the State in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highway, N. K. Singh, Chairman, 15th Finance Commission and Sushil Modi, MP in an award ceremony held on Feburary 26 at New Delhi.
The performance of the State as a “Reformist State Government” was evaluated on several factors like infrastructure for industrial and skill development, government to citizen services through technology, ease of doing business and state incentives, stamp duty rate rationalization and automation, electricity reforms and promotion of renewable energy, support to industry and trade, property and other municipal reforms.
Similarly, the performance of the State Tax Commissionerate was evaluated on the basis of several taxpayer centric delivery of services like following the process of pre-showcase notice consultations as per the policy, escalating issues of taxpayers to be resolved by GST Council, response time in resolving queries raised by taxpayers and refund process followed by the State GST Authorities.
The awardees were selected based on the feedback provided using online voting by taxpayers and citizens as well as by evaluation done by an eminent jury.
Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha has congratulated the Commissionerate of Commercial Tax & GST on this achievement.