You are educated but your background is not enough to secure you a government job. You want to start some business but your family is not in a position to help. Whatever little money you have, somehow you can use it as security to obtain a bank loan. So you set about running from pillar to post and somehow get the basic capital required for your business. With much expectation you start your business but ALAS!!! Even before you make your first sale, somebody comes in and hands out a receipt. Then another comes in and so on. Even before you start repayment of your hard-earned loan, your business gets killed.
Where are these people when you are running around searching for help? NO WHERE! Where will these people be when you become heartbroken after your business fails? NO WHERE! And then this dealership and syndicate system, my God how much can one take. Without being aware, even before you get started, multiple taxes may have been imposed on your consignments by the same people.
So how do some businesses survive? Simple – we can avoid buying a dress if it is too expensive but what about rice even if it has to cost Rs. 100/- per Kg. Most of the essential commodities are run by non-locals and hence we, the public pay exorbitant prices (even 10 to 15 times the normal wholesale rate) for the numerous taxes imposed illegally, whereas some of our local businesses which people can make do without, just shut down silently. So who is actually paying the tax – the surviving businessmen or the public? Should tax (even one) be paid at all? Keep supporting the movement. God bless ACAUT.
Kethosituo Mepfhüo
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