Aizawl: Mizoram state taxation commissioner HK Lalhawngliana on Monday said India has made significant progress across sectors under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, asserting that the country’s economic growth has been a key driver of its overall development.He was speaking at a one-day programme on “12 Years of Governance on Employment Generation and Economic Reforms under GST,” organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Aizawl, under the Union ministry of information and broadcasting. The programme included expert sessions by officials from the state taxation department and the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) on various govt initiatives and economic reforms.The tax commissioner said the steady rise in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections is not merely a statistical achievement but a crucial pillar underpinning the nation’s economic progress. India, which once faced persistent challenges in generating employment, has now emerged as a provider of jobs, he added.He said progress made under the GST regime is an important component of India’s aspiration to become a developed nation, and that Mizoram should make every effort to contribute to the national objective.Lalhawngliana said the Centre’s decision to streamline the GST structure was aimed at improving tax compliance. While both Mizoram and the rest of the country may witness a temporary decline in GST collections following the reforms, the Union govt would absorb the impact and compensate states for any revenue loss arising from rationalisation of tax rates, he added.Former regional director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), North East Regional Campus, LR Sailo, who attended as guest of honour, said the media sector has grown under central govt initiatives, with technology making news more accessible to the public. He said the media in Mizoram has also made progress, helping people access accurate and credible information, and urged journalists to work with professionalism, integrity and impartiality.Sailo said several developmental initiatives were undertaken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that Mizoram also benefited from various schemes and programmes of the Centre.KVIC assistant director J Zodinpuii highlighted various welfare initiatives undertaken by the Centre, saying the govt is committed to ensuring benefits reach the people.
