SANJAY BORKAR
PONDA
At a time when online shopping is a craze and many banking and government transactions are executed over the internet, one would have expected considerable enthusiasm in availing of online tax payments at Ponda Municipal Council (PMC).
On the contrary, the response has been poor, with only 31 online transactions conducted within a period of nearly four months.
PMC had introduced its online tax payment service on July 7 as a special facility to enable residents save time, money and effort, instead of forcing them to queue up to pay their taxes at the council's office. It had tied up with Axis Bank to facilitate its online tax payment service.
While launching PMC's website and payment services, www.pmcgoa.com, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza had praised the initiative, claiming it was one-of-the-best services by the council.
According to the PMC accounts section, only 31 people have used the online service till October 28, generating a collection of a meagre Rs 45,000.
Before the service was launched, PMC received one payment on June 30. The numbers thereafter have hardly been impressive for the council: 7 (July), 5 (August), 5 (September) and till October 28 (13).
“PMC's online tax payment service was an initiative to facilitate the residents, but the response has been dismal. This poor response could be due to insufficient awareness about the online tax payment service,” admitted a source at PMC.
“The awareness may have been insufficient, but PMC can not be faulted for doing nothing,” insisted the source.
“PMC had displayed banners in the city and had also printed the information on house tax bills, but it seems it still requires more awareness and the local body is planning for the same,” the source added.
Incidentally, though the council had included the facility to pay trade taxes and signboard fees through the online route, not one applicant has opted to pay this tax using this system so far.
When pointed out that some online users had encountered difficulty in accessing the system, an officer involved with payments informed The Goan: “We are verifying into the possibility of any delay or difficulty that has deterred people from using the service.”
“If there are any, we will sort it out. Besides, we will shortly upgrade the service to new technology which will provide better services to people,” the officer said on the condition of anonymity.
Citing the various benefits of the system, another officer added: “This online system is very easy to operate and one can easily pay taxes online, which saves valuable time of tax payers, while also eliminating the need to queue up at the PMC payment section. One can also pay their rent online, but so far, nobody has done so. PMC is now trying to upgrade the website and also to spread greater awareness.”
When contacted, PMC Chief Officer, Johnson Fernandes, also admitted that insufficient publicity was one of the reasons why the service could not reach the people.
“Though the advertisement of online service has been printed on all house tax and trade tax bills, people are yet to show interest. Nevertheless, we will display more banners in the city to ensure better awareness,” Fernandes said.
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- Lack of awareness, cumbersome online process and lack of interest have been the three common reasons
- Some people who had gone to pay taxes at PMC admitted that they were unaware about the service
- Many complained that the system takes a long time to complete payment process, and called for streamlining the service
PONDA
Lack of awareness, cumbersome online process and lack of interest have been the three common reasons cited by those reluctant to use Ponda Municipal Council's online payment service.
Some people who had gone to pay taxes at PMC's counter admitted that they were unaware about the online service.
An elderly citizen explained another difficulty: “We are not that internet-savvy, and hence, we prefer to visit the counter and pay our taxes.”
One person who actually tried the system were not impressed. “It takes long time to complete the online payment process, therefore PMC should streamline the online payment system,” was the reaction.
A youth, Yogita Madkaikar, who also stood in the counter, was quick to claim that she had used the online system to pay her family's house tax. “I am standing in this queue to pay the tax of a relative,” she clarified.
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PONDA
Admitting that the council has not succeeded in creating enough awareness regarding its online payment services, Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) Chairperson Dr Radhika Nayak has said the council has already initiated steps in this regard.
“It is true that awareness regarding this online service has been inadequate. But from December 1, PMC will print messages regarding its online facility on its stationery,” said Dr Nayak.
“The message on tax demand notices and posters creating awareness in tax, births and deaths and technical sections of PMC will also be displayed in the city,” Dr Nayak said.
