National
‘Number of taxpayers increased by 19.5% post-demonetisation’
New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) The number of taxpayers increased by 19.5 per cent in one year post-demonetisation from 3.25 crore to 3.89 crore, Parliament was told on Friday.
“During the current financial year (up to November 7), 3.89 crore income-tax e-returns were filed as compared to 3.25 crore e-returns filed during corresponding period of the last financial year, which translates into a growth rate of 19.5 per cent,” Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
“The quantum of net direct tax collections in FY 2017-18 (up to November, 2017) has increased to Rs 4.8 lakh crore (provisional) as compared to Rs 4.20 lakh crore collected during corresponding period of last year registering a growth rate of 14.3 per cent,” he added.
Shukla said that during the period from November 2016 to March 2017, the Income Tax Department conducted searches in around 900 groups, wherein undisclosed income of over Rs 7,900 crore was admitted.
“During the same period, more than 8,200 surveys were conducted leading to detection of undisclosed income of more than Rs 6,700 crore.
“Further, during the period from April 2017 to October 2017, around 275 groups were searched by the Income Tax Department in which undisclosed income of over Rs 7,800 crore was admitted.
“During the same period, more than 3,100 surveys were conducted by the department in which undisclosed income of over Rs 2,400 crore was detected,” he said.
Listing out various steps taken by the government to curb cash transactions, the Minister said furnishing PAN was made mandatory for all cash deposits above Rs 50,000 and aggregating to more than Rs 2.5 lakh during the period from November 9, 2016 to December 31, 2016.
“Further, the prescribed reporting entities were mandated to report all cash deposits above Rs 2.5 lakh in savings accounts and Rs 12.5 lakh in current account during the period,” he said adding a restriction on cash transaction of over Rs 2 lakh was also imposed.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.