Port Blair, Sept. 15: GST Jagrukta- a GST awareness programme was held in the Seminar Gallery and Conference Hall of Tagore Government College of Education, Port Blair today. The seminar was inaugurated by Smt. Veditha Reddy, IAS, Commissioner, UTGST Department, A&N Islands. She emphasized on creating a general awareness on GST relating to different trades amongst the business community. Discussions were held on various issues of GST compliance and the legal provisions of the offences and penalties enacted under GST Act, 2017. The Tax Officers and Assistant Commissioners presented talks on objectives and challenges for GST implementation in A&N Islands. A special focus was given on penal and legal provision for violations of GST Law viz. fake invoices, undervaluation of sales, import of goods without valid documents, non-payment of tax in a timely manner, conducting business without taking proper GST registration.

Shri Dilkhush Meena, IAS, Additional Commissioner, UTGST, A&N addressed the trade community in a positive manner, implying they were extension of the Tax Department, entrusted to bring in GST to Government exchequer. An invitation for clearing all the doubts and problems of the trading community was extended, and plans for arrangements for separate seminars specific for each trade were also made for future. Shri Anand Vardhan Mishra, Assistant Commissioner, UTGST concluded the event with the assurance to conduct such seminars on regular basis.

The meeting successfully concluded with the commitment for furtherance of cooperation in GST implementation in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.