Following the pattern of urban cities, Bhopal District Panchayat is set to re-start charges for property, water and cleanliness from general public in villages. Water, property and cleanliness fee will be imposed in all 222 Panchayats under Bhopal district from August 1. In rural areas, tax charges will be collected by ‘Tax Sakhi’. According to the reports, tax collection in rural areas was started during year 2022 with an aim to make the Panchayat a stronger system. With tax collection in villages, Panchayat got their own fund. These funds were used for development works including streetlights, door-to-door garbage collection, sewage, road etc. Last year, during Vidhan Sabha election villagers were provided relaxation and tax collection was put on hold and till then, the authority concerned had collected around 2.5 crores from 222 panchayats. Panchayat system charges Rs 200 as property tax, Rs 50 cleanliness cess, Rs 1400 annual business charges and Rs 60 to 100 for water cess.

 

While speaking to ‘The Hitavada’ Rituraj Singh, CEO District Panchayat said, “Cleanliness, water and property tax in villages are being re-started by the Panchayat. ‘Tax Sakhi’ will be roped in to collect taxes and this will help to promote development work in Panchayats.” He further informed that there are 4,434 people covered under 77 Panchayat of Phanda. Around 81.30 lakh will be collected from these people. He said till the tax collection process was put on hold, Rs 65.61 lakh were collected by ‘Tax Sakhi’ team. Talking about Berasia Panchayat, he said 7,203 people are covered under the tax collection and around 47.19 lakh will be collected from these people. While putting a halt on tax collection, the ‘Tax Sakhi’ team collected around Rs 35 lakh from Berasia. CEO Rituraj further said, however this is quite tough to collect the charges from villagers as they are annoyed by the new financial burden. He said, ‘Tax Sakhi’ are members of women self-help groups assigned to collect tax from villagers.

 

Two women from each village Panchayat are put on the task. They start collection around the tenth of every month with their working hours depending on how fast they are able to convince people to pay up. From total amount collected, ‘Tax Sakhi’ receives 10% commission, which can be from Rs 3000 to Rs 10,000 a month. Sonam Bai, a Tax Sakhi in Phanda Kala village Panchyat said, “Once we approach anyone for tax payment they get angry and refuse to pay. It needs lots of efforts and energy to convince them to pay the dues.”