MUMBAI, APRIL 10: State Finance Minister Mahadev Shivankar's recent decision to stop levying professional tax on the Hindu undivided family and partnership firms is being seen as largesse to the affluent business community.Despite numerous appeals to abolish professional tax, the State Government has only been increasing its quantum over the years. The highest slab for those earning above Rs 5,000 per month is nearly double the amount charged in 1995 - while it was Rs 70 per month then, it is now Rs 150, said Alka Chandlewar, president, Jan Jagruti Manch (JJM), a non-governmental organisation.The JJM has condemned this year's Budget provisions. Terming the announcement as ``frivolous'', the JMM says ``gross injustice'' has been done to the working class in the State with ``misleading provisions'' regarding professional tax.Chandlewar wonders how the common wage-earner would benefit from the exemption given to undivided families and partnership firms. She says, ``There are not too many Hinduundivided families existing today, so exempting them is just an eyewash.'' She said professional tax was collected compulsorily from the working class only in Maharashtra. ``Even a common wage earner earning Rs 2,000 per month has not been spared and is required to pay Rs 30 per month.''In a letter to the Minister, she has also demanded to know why an unskilled labourer and wage-earner have been classified as `professionals' and are being made to pay this tax. According to the JMM, although professional tax was meant to be utilised as dole for the unemployed, the money is hardly being used for the purpose. JMM plans to start a public movement against the constant increase in professional tax and has decided to organise protest meets to arouse public sentiment on the issue.
