A seminar on ethics in governance and taxpayer services was organised by Office of the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Visakhapatnam here on Tuesday.
Swami Amritananda, Head of Sri Ramakrishna Order and Prof. A. Prasanna Kumar, Director, Centre for Policy Studies were the guest speakers. Chief Commissioner of Income Tax S.K. Pathak dwelt at length on the importance of human values. He said that one would only be identified through our behaviour and service rendered by him. “Our objective should be to provide quality service to the taxpayer through cordial reception right from his entry at the main gate, by the guards showing appropriate parking space and helpful reception at the facilitation counter,” he stated.
Swami Amritananda exhorted all the officers to have compassion and an exemplary conduct in the service of the nation. His message was to empathise with the taxpayers and be responsive to their needs.
‘Ignorant’
Prof. Prasanna Kumar stressed the need for being practical while dealing with the taxpayers who were largely ignorant of the Income Tax provisions and their consequential dependence on the intermediaries.