Vapi, Gujarat: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched 12 Goods and Services Tax (GST) Seva Kendras today at Gyandham School in Vapi, Gujarat. The launch event was a significant step towards streamlining GST services in the region.
At the event, Finance Minister Sitharaman presented prizes, including Rs 10 lakh cheques, to 6 customers who had actively participated in the Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar scheme. These winners had diligently uploaded their valid GST bills through the designated app following their purchases.
In her address, the Finance Minister emphasized the importance of these state-of-the-art centers in enhancing the Ease of Doing Business across the country. She praised Gujarat for taking the lead in establishing such centers and anticipates that they will serve as a model for other states to emulate. Present at the event were Finance Minister of Gujarat, Kanubhai Desai, and Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), along with senior GST department officials.
Discussing the Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar scheme, Minister Sitharaman emphasized that every citizen plays a vital role in the nation’s development by insisting on bills from traders and shopkeepers during purchases. She stressed that it is the consumer’s right to request a bill, and it is the responsibility of the trader or shopkeeper to provide one.
The Finance Minister further stated that such incentives will encourage more people to request and upload bills, thereby participating in the scheme’s objectives.
The Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar (MBMA) scheme was launched by CBIC on September 1, 2023, to promote the culture of generating invoices during sales and purchase transactions. An ongoing campaign supports the MBMA scheme to create awareness among the public.
State Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai expressed his gratitude to Union Finance Minister Sitharaman for gifting the GST Seva Kendra to Vapi as a Diwali present. He highlighted the successful implementation of GST and attributed it to the collaborative efforts and the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the realization of “One Nation, One Tax.” Gujarat’s business-friendly policies have positioned the state as a significant contributor to the country’s economic growth.
The 12 GST Seva Kendras inaugurated today are strategically located in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Godhra, Vapi, Mehsana, Palanpur, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, and Gandhidham. These dedicated service centers, established by the Government of India, aim to provide assistance to taxpayers on GST-related matters, further facilitating seamless business operations.