Shillong, July 12: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has underscored participatory policy-making and highlighted the government’s constant efforts to make tax systems and financial frameworks more accessible and efficient for all stakeholders.
Sitharaman made the observations during her interactions with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry representatives during a programme jointly organised by Government of Meghalaya in collaboration with Department of Financial Services (DFS), Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
Significantly, the union finance minister felicitated Rimiful Shylla and Wanjoplin, who are among Meghalaya’s top women taxpayers, for their commendable contribution to the nation’s tax system.
Meanwhile, the participants highlighted the need to ensure a balanced approach to development that upholds environmental sustainability, the importance of fostering research and development and financial assistance for institution involved in R&D, and greater policy attention for the hospitality sector.
They also stressed the need to bring local industries under the Targeted Champion Sector Scheme, extend better access to credit and markets for startups and MSMEs, especially those rooted in the Northeast, and enhance central infrastructure investments to boost regional industrial growth.
Concerns over high logistics costs due to the region’s geographical challenges were also raised, with calls for rationalised transport subsidies to improve competitiveness.
To facilitate structured follow-up, the finance minister advised that such proposals and sectoral concerns be routed through the respective ministries and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) for appropriate evaluation and action.
