S. RAGHUNATHA PRABHU, Alappuzha

A Finance Minister is a Minister who always finds it difficult to make both ends meet. Here are a few suggestions to mobilize more resources. Re-introduce Interest tax on Banks' interst income. Re-introduce wealth-tax with higher slabs. Re-introduce Fringe-benefit Tax. It is more effective than taxing perks. Introduce Amnesty scheme for black-money holders in in Swiss banks. Inflow of money may be shared between the government and the black money holders on a 50 : 50 basis. Introduce Presumptive Tax for professionals like doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants. They are the biggest tax evaders as a class. Impose special tax on foreign travels each time one goes abroad. Impose an additional 5 % import duty on Gold. India is the biggest importer of gold and Indians' craze for gold has to be curtailed. Levy 1 % Defence cess to strenghten our defence preparedness, considering growing external threat.

S. RAGHUNATHA PRABHU
Special Assistant
State Bank of Travancore
Punnapra-688004
ALAPPUZHA
punnapra@sbt.co.in