Eunuchs in new roles, PMC sends them for tax collection

Patna, Nov 10 (UNI) In a unique method of collecting taxes, the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has started sending eunuchs to collect dues from defaulters.

These eunuchs would be acting as government's agents to collect municipal corporation dues from 'stubborn' shopkeepers and house owners in various localities here.

Eunuchs have succeeded where the 'babus' failed to deliver results. These eunuchs have managed to collect Rs 4.5 lakh from defaulters on the first day.

'' Tax jama karo, hum sarkar ki taraf se bol rahe hain. Ghar neelam mat karwao (pay the taxes, we are requesting on behalf of the government. Do not force the officials to auction your houses),'' Pooja, a eunuch, yelled at the shopkeepers while her companions clapped and danced to the beats of the 'Dhols'.

'' Our leader Kali Hijra was approached by the government and she gave us the job, '' Basanti said.

Many shopkeepers were shocked, while, others took it sportingly.

'' If we don't give the money immediately these hijras will spell curses upon us and start clapping and singing,'' a shopkeeper said.

Many of them hastily took out chequebooks and handed cheques over to the eunuchs.

However, a few irked businessmen have objected to such a move.

'' This is very objectionable,'' an angry M Khan, another shopkeeper, said when the enunchs arrived at his shop.

PMC officials hoped this drive would definitely bear fruits and said it would continue till no defaulters are left.

PMC Commissioner Atul Prasad described the event as a big leap towards boosting the civic body's revenue collection.

''Despite our routine efforts in the past, the number of defaulters kept rising,'' he said justifying the service of eunuchs.

''There are an estimated five lakh holdings under PMC but only 1.75 lakh are registered and from whom Rs 20 to 22 crore is annually recovered as holding tax. If all the five lakh holdings pay their taxes properly, PMC's revenue would increase up to Rs 60 to 70 crore,'' he added.

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