Government of India
Ministry of Finance,
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
North Block, New Delhi – 110 001
Tel +91-11-23092849, Fax : +91-11-23092890
E-mail : ajit.m@gov.in
D.O.No.60/CH(IC)/2020
Date: 29th March, 2021
Dear Colleague
It gives me immense pleasure to pen this letter on the joyous day of the festival of colours. While Holi is celebrated to mark the arrival of spring and the harvest season, we are also at the cusp of a new financial year 2021-22. On the eve of this festive occasion, I had an interaction with our young officers working in the Board on 26.03.2021 and was impressed with their commitment to the service and the depth of knowledge that they possess. Some of their thoughts and ideas would help us in toning up our work-flow process in the new financial year.
Board has been monitoring the revenue augmentation and key result areas of the zones by conducting regular Video Conferences. Some of the gains are seen in areas like the Nhava Sheva Export Commissionerate’s follow up action that has resulted in the depositing of Rs. 54.07 crore of an IEC holder towards unfulfilled Export Obligations. It’s Audit Commissionerate too had made a recovery of Rs. 9 crore. On the disposal side, 61 Kgs of Gold has been disposed off by Bangalore Customs Zone last week to realize Rs. 27 crore. Many other zones have also realized sizeable revenue through disposal of gold and other goods. All this goes a long way in helping the Department achieve it’s revenue target.
The devastating explosion at Beirut Port last year, had sent shock waves and awakened us to the lurking danger of storing discarded war material that had arrived with imported scrap material and were segregated and lying in our own ports. Ongoing efforts to safely destroy these explosives were speeded up in right earnest by the Board. Meetings with MHA and MoD have borne fruit. Under the assigned code name Operation Visphotak Mukt Bandargah’, Army Bomb Disposal teams have visited various customs locations and drawn up a plan for the safe disposal of such material. To finally see live shells being loaded / moved out of Mulund CFS, MbPT, Nhava Sheva and Kandla and be transported to the Defence facility for destruction under police escort was reassuring. Similar operations are in process at other ports. A lot of effort in this regard was put in by different formations under the active guidance of Member (Customs). I thank him and the Customs Investigation Wing of the Board for implementing this task, unfettered by restrictions on meetings, etc. during the pandemic. Zones too have coordinated well with other agencies for ensuring the smooth evacuation of goods. Appreciation is also due to the Armed Forces and MHA for helping in the whole process. While a lot still remains to be done, I am sure that the progress made will be sustained and all such hazardous goods will be safely transported to safe places for destruction.
A few changes on the Customs and GST side are to come into effect shortly on the dates indicated in the Finance Act 2021 (no 13 of 2021) and in some others are independently slated to begin from lst of April, 2021. They have been publicized through our social media handles. However, field formations and DGTS should sensitize and hand hold the trade about the implementation of these changes, during this week. IT systems has also been geared up to incorporate and adopt the changes to make this transition smooth.
On the HR side, it gives me pleasure to note that the amendments proposed to the RRs governing Group C posts of CBN, i.e. of Sub-Inspectors specifically, have just been approved for notification.
The Directorate of Logistics deserves appreciation for their efforts in getting approval for procuring laptops for Gr A and Gr B staff of the department. The proposal for purchase of 845 laptops for Group ‘A’ officers has been successful and, along with past sanctions, would result in provisioning of laptops to nearly all Group ‘A’ officers. A similar proposal was also moved by DoL to provide laptops to all Group B officers under the 1% Incremental Revenue Scheme. This should bear fruit shortly.
The efforts of DGHRD to engage children with nature while learning is a novel thought-process. A green initiative named `Shrishti – A Nature Class’ for Atal Adarsh Bengali Balika Vidyalaya, at Gole Market, New Delhi was taken up under the Swachhta Action Plan of HRM-1 wing of DGHRD. It comprised development of a garden of herbs and aromatic plants. An open air eco-friendly bamboo gazebo equipped for teaching and learning with a whiteboard and a microphone for the instructor and eco-stools for students has also been provided for a holistic outdoor learning experience. The project was completed and was handed over to the School administration last week after inauguration by DG, DGHRD, ADG, DGHRD and Director of Education, Delhi Government. Such initiatives go a long way in creating a positive impression in the minds of young children and their families about the good work being done by CBIC.
The month of March comes to an end in the next couple of days and it’s time to bid farewell, on behalf of all of you and on my own personal behalf, to Shri Vinod Kumar Saxena, Chief Commissioner of Bhopal Zone, who would be superannuating this month after a career spanning 34 years. While appreciating his services, I also extend my best wishes to all other officers of various cadres and ranks who would be superannuating this month.
Before signing off this week’s letter, which incidentally will be the last for this financial year, there is a lot of hope and expectations from all of you in helping achieve our revenue and other targets in a judicious manner. I take this opportunity to thank all the members of the CBIC family for their commitment and enjoin them to begin the new financial year 2021-22 with renewed vigour and commitment.
with best wishes
Yours sincerely
(M. Ajit Kumar)
To,
All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
