Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday roped in transgender community here on Friday in order to collect holding tax from the big defaulters.
The group named TG Swikruti Self Help Group (SHG) formally started its work and after identity cards distribution the members with proper uniform started their venture in order to help the largest urban local body of Odisha to help enhance its tax base.
The special squad will be working to collect nearly Rs 11 crore from big defaulters.
On the first day they collected Rs 66,264 from people. As per the agreement the group will earn one percent money from the amount they collected from the defaulters.
BMC Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhury flagged off the special squad here in a function.
Speaking to media persons on this occasion Chaudhary said the initiative will achieve a two-prong strategy, one by employing the Third Gender in the social mainstream and to give them an opportunity to serve the society through BMC and the other is to collect holding tax from the big defaulters.
BMC Additional Commissioners Suratha Chandra Mallick, Abanikanta Patnaik and Deputy Commissioner Srimanta Mishra were also present.
On this occasion the members of the TG Swikruti SHG said that their slogan would be “Tax dijiye dua lijiye’’ (Give holding tax and receive our blessings).
President of TG Swikruti self help group Meghna Sahu said when in many organizations and places the transgender community members are either sidelined or not given their due respect in case of employment and other social positions, this initiative by BMC will definitely help us financially.
