P.J.
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Corporation gets transgenders, drummers to make hotel pay tax
CHENNAI: When a star hotel in the city defaulted on paying property tax, Chennai Corporation made a song and dance of it. Literally. And it paid off.
When owner of Hilton Chennai in Guindy failed to pay the property tax of Rs33.9 lakh after repeated reminders, the corporation landed in front of the gates at 10.30am Friday, with two transgenders and drummers. Even as the guards and guests watched, the transgenders started gyrating to drumbeats. Soon a crowd gathered to watch the 'performance'. Not missed was the message of tax default, written large on a banner held aloft by the officials. Soon the hotel owning company paid up.
Confirming the incident, Hilton Chennai general manager Parag Sawhney said all property tax-related matters are the responsibility of the owning company. Hilton Chennai is owned by the Empee Group which could not be reached.
A corporation official who was part of the team said it was the first time they used transgenders to collect property tax arrears. "We had issued notices to the hotel, but got no response. A little embarrassment sometimes works more than threats," he said. He added that a severe financial crisis has forced the civic body to take such steps. In Bengaluru, the corporation does the drum-beating campaign to name and shame property tax defaulters. The Karnataka high court had called it "uncivilized" during a hearing of tax claim case.
Hilton general manager said in a statement that the hotel complies fully with applicable laws. "We have always observed all relevant regulations and policies relating to our hotel and we have extended our full cooperation to local authorities. It is important to note that Hilton worldwide manages this hotel on behalf of the hotel's owning company. All property tax related matters are the responsibility of the owning company," Sawhney said.
Corporation officials said the drive will continue for a few days. "We have compiled a list of property tax defaulters who owe the corporation more than Rs50,000. We have been directed to first target major defaulters, mainly high value properties. More establishments will hear the music," he said.
Chennai Corporation has collected Rs435 crore as property tax against the target of Rs550 crore for 2014-15. In 2013-14, it collected Rs480 crore against the target of Rs500 crore. The civic body is yet to collect more than Rs100 crore as arrears for the previous years from commercial establishments.
Corporation gets transgenders, drummers to make hotel pay tax - The Times of India
?????? ??? ????????? ????????? ????????? ??????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????: ?????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ??.1.5 ???? ?????? - ?? ?????
THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA!!
Pakistan used the same technique to shame Tax defaulters
http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010...transgender-workers-to-shame-tax-delinquents/
CHENNAI: When a star hotel in the city defaulted on paying property tax, Chennai Corporation made a song and dance of it. Literally. And it paid off.
When owner of Hilton Chennai in Guindy failed to pay the property tax of Rs33.9 lakh after repeated reminders, the corporation landed in front of the gates at 10.30am Friday, with two transgenders and drummers. Even as the guards and guests watched, the transgenders started gyrating to drumbeats. Soon a crowd gathered to watch the 'performance'. Not missed was the message of tax default, written large on a banner held aloft by the officials. Soon the hotel owning company paid up.
Confirming the incident, Hilton Chennai general manager Parag Sawhney said all property tax-related matters are the responsibility of the owning company. Hilton Chennai is owned by the Empee Group which could not be reached.
A corporation official who was part of the team said it was the first time they used transgenders to collect property tax arrears. "We had issued notices to the hotel, but got no response. A little embarrassment sometimes works more than threats," he said. He added that a severe financial crisis has forced the civic body to take such steps. In Bengaluru, the corporation does the drum-beating campaign to name and shame property tax defaulters. The Karnataka high court had called it "uncivilized" during a hearing of tax claim case.
Hilton general manager said in a statement that the hotel complies fully with applicable laws. "We have always observed all relevant regulations and policies relating to our hotel and we have extended our full cooperation to local authorities. It is important to note that Hilton worldwide manages this hotel on behalf of the hotel's owning company. All property tax related matters are the responsibility of the owning company," Sawhney said.
Corporation officials said the drive will continue for a few days. "We have compiled a list of property tax defaulters who owe the corporation more than Rs50,000. We have been directed to first target major defaulters, mainly high value properties. More establishments will hear the music," he said.
Chennai Corporation has collected Rs435 crore as property tax against the target of Rs550 crore for 2014-15. In 2013-14, it collected Rs480 crore against the target of Rs500 crore. The civic body is yet to collect more than Rs100 crore as arrears for the previous years from commercial establishments.
Corporation gets transgenders, drummers to make hotel pay tax - The Times of India
?????? ??? ????????? ????????? ????????? ??????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????: ?????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ??.1.5 ???? ?????? - ?? ?????
THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA!!
Pakistan used the same technique to shame Tax defaulters
http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010...transgender-workers-to-shame-tax-delinquents/
