The Revenue Department will have a tough time training 60,000 field officials for implementation of GST from April 1, given it has only provided requisite skills to only 3,074 personnel. The National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics has been given the mammoth task of training officials of both the Centre and states.
Latest date reveals only 3,074 field officers have been trained as against the target of 60,000 and the government is in the works of rolling out the goods and services tax regime from April next year. However, targets in different other types of 'trainers' have been achieved, and in some cases, surpassed. "There are undoubtedly huge challenges before us as we go about learning the nuances and provisions of the new law. We need to recognise the changes taking place and reorganise our existing administrative set-up to meet the requirements of the new tax regime," CBEC Chairman Najib Shah said. He asserted the CBEC will have to provide a lead role in implementation of challenges, training officials, the trade and industry, holding workshops with all stakeholders and acquiring and imparting necessary IT skills.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addressed a parliamentary consultative committee, saying the government is working on a target date of April 1, 2017, for the rollout of GST. He added that so far the government is following the road map for implementation of GST as per the schedule.
