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There is more than Rs 43,000 crore of unclaimed provident fund money in India, and the government is considering using it to fund its flagship schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Housing for All. This means that if you don’t claim your PF now, it could be used to fund government schemes in the future. 
 
As per officials, the idea was popped up by government's think tank NITI Aayog, which overlooks the key schemes of Indian government. The idea was proposed so that these projects are not delayed due to lack of funds. 
 "We are looking into the proposition of taking a loan from <keyword id="6372438" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="EPFO">EPFO</keyword>'s unclaimed kitty to partially pump money into some of our schemes," a senior official of NITI Aayog told ET requesting anonymity. 
 
The government is yet to decide whether the money would be used in the form of a loan or bonds. The EPFO has already invested the PF amount of more than '7 lakh crore in government securities, bonds, debts and equity. 
 
"We are open to the proposal of lending money to the Centre from the unclaimed PF amount provided we earn higher rate of interest on it," said a senior labour ministry official. "We have the flexibility of parking money anywhere, but it has to backed by some security because this is workers' money which can be claimed at any time," he said. 
 
These flagship programmes require huge amounts of money so that they can be implemented and completed timely, including Rs 2 lakh crore for constructing 12 crore toilets across India by 2019 under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Rs 6 lakh crore to build 6 crore houses under Housing for All programme by 2022. 
 
<a href="https://letstalkpayments.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Can%E2%80%8B-I%E2%80%8B-Transfer-Money-from-US-to-India-%E2%80%8Bsame-day-Inexpensively-and-Easily%E2%80%8B.jpeg">Image source</a>

If you don’t claim your PF now, it could end up in government’s kitty

Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra, who became the faces of <keyword id="2517872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</keyword> might feature in its upcoming campaign as the government tries to impart new energy into Modi cabinet’s mission for national cleanliness. 
 
Reportedly, the government has reached out to the actors for featuring in radio advertisements on Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani's radio channels, and for their participation in a short promotional film which would soon be produced to raise awareness about the mission. 
 
"Bachchan and Chopra have assured their time for any promo film we make, for free," a senior official told ET on the condition of anonymity. "Brand ambassador Sachin Tendulkar last year lent his voice to a Swachh Bharat video anthem," he added. 
 
Once Ambani gives his consent for government’s proposal to run subsidised, if not free, advertisements on BIG FM, the Swachh Bharat team will start working with the Reliance Group for a communications campaign. 
 
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched by PM Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, and aims for nation cleanliness by 2019. 
 
<a href="http://datastore01.rediff.com/h1500-w1500/thumb/4F6259655A5464655B656B586A636B716D72/1w9orw4ro8e9xpnj.D.0.Amitabh-Bachchan-with-Priyanka-Chopra-at-Dettol-NDTV-Banega-Swachh-India-Cleanathon--2-.JPG">Image source </a>

Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra will power up Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

As the Indian government wants to scale up PM Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘<keyword id="2517872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</keyword>’ and invest around Rs 2.23 lakh crore by October 2019, it may levy cess from the common man even to provide basic sanitation. 
 
The government is mulling over levying 0.5% cess on petrol, diesel and telecom services, a 1% cess on accumulated waste produced by mineral generation plants and a 0.5 percentage point increase in service tax. 
 If everything falls in place, this could be announced during <keyword id="6360189" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget">Union Budget</keyword> on February 29. 
 
This recommendation was given by a sub-group of chief ministers on Swachh Bharat set up by Niti Aayog. 
 
"The sharing pattern of funds for this programme between the Centre and states may be in the ratio of 75:25, while for hilly states it may be kept at 90:10," said the sub-group. 
 Under the <keyword id="63500" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cleanliness-Drive">cleanliness drive</keyword>, the government wants to construct household toilets, community and public toilets and scientific waste management. 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

Tax Alert! You could soon be paying cess for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan!

As the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Indian+government" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Indian government</a> is all set to levy its <keyword id="2692614" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-cess">Swachh Bharat cess</keyword>, the Indian Inc says it is not ready for it yet. 
 
The government, in its <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=union+budget" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Union Budget</a>, had announced that a cess of up to 2% would be levied to fund <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=prime+minister+narendra+modi" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">PM Narendra </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=prime+minister+narendra+modi" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Modi</a>’s pet campaign ‘<keyword id="2517872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</keyword>’. 
 
The 0.5% cess on all taxable services was notified by the Centre. 
 
"It may be seen that all issues relating to Swachh Bharat cess are addressed in the service tax provisions itself by virtue of the applicability of Chapter V of the Finance Act, 1994, and the rules made thereunder," the finance ministry stated. 
 But, the Indian industry says this is against the PM’s claims of <keyword id="6354423" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ease-of-Doing-Business">ease of doing business</keyword> in India and also sought clarity on certain issues. 
 
Also, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ficci" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce &amp; Industry</a> (<keyword id="6355001" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="FICCI">FICCI</keyword>) said the eight day's notice was too short and that the cess should be implemented from January. 
Experts in India Inc say that changing billing system in the middle of the month, especially in festive season, will prove to be difficult. 
 
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=cii" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Confederation of Indian Industry</a> (CII) also asked if the cess would be creditable. 
 Meanwhile, India Inc said the cess should have been levied in line with the Goods &amp; Services Tax (<keyword id="6354679" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="GST">GST</keyword>). 
 
Even telecom operators voiced the same concern and asked for a delay. 
 
“There is no clarity whether credit of Swachh Bharat would be available as in the case of service tax. In case the credit is not available, the net incidence of the cess would be higher than 0.5% on services on account of cascading. Similarly, the cess would also impact the price of goods as there would be an incidence of cess on input services,” Bipin Sapra, partner, EY, told ET. 
 
Also, the value and rate is unclear, what the effective rate of tax would be for services that are taxable at an abated rate. 
 
The finance ministry explained that the taxable value for the levy of Swachh Bharat cess would be the same on which service tax is levied. 
 
“The cess would be calculated on abated value or value arrived at under service tax. On the issue of point of taxation, the statement said norms laid down in Rule 5 would apply. Therefore, in case where payment has been received and invoice is raised before the service becomes taxable, i.e., prior to November 15, 2015, there is no liability of Swachh Bharat cess,” stated the finance ministry. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

India Inc wants deferment in Swachh Bharat cess, says it will affect ease of doing business

The <keyword id="6356595" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="South-Delhi-Municipal-Corporation">South Delhi Municipal Corporation</keyword> (<keyword id="413995" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="SDMC">SDMC</keyword>) has mandated all <keyword id="6361054" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="South-Delhi">South Delhi</keyword> <keyword id="4365660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="hotels-and-restaurants">hotels and restaurants</keyword> to make their <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/World-Toilet-Day-Funny-signs-outside-toilets-in-India/articleshow/49845942.cms">restrooms</a> accessible to the general public. 
 
This idea, which would give a boost to the ambitious <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Tax-Alert-You-could-soon-be-paying-cess-for-the-Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan/articleshow/50667026.cms">Swachh Bharat campaign</a>, was given by Lt Governor Anil Baijal. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Modis-Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan-gets-one-more-partner/articleshow/54561345.cms">Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan gets one more partner</a> 
 
The hotels and restaurants are allowed to charge upto Rs 5 per usage, so that their maintenance and cleaning charges are covered. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Students-of-IIM-A-are-helping-this-Gujarat-village-market-toilets-to-tribals-villagers/articleshow/51852988.cms">Students of IIM-A are helping this Gujarat village market toilets to tribals, villagers</a> 
 The change, which would instantly make over 3500 <keyword id="4513296" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Restrooms">restrooms</keyword> accessible to Delhi public, will be brought into effect from April 1. 
 
(Image source: Smashing)

SDMC to make restrooms in South Delhi hotels and restaurants open to all

At a time when people have started questioning government’s expenditure in advertisements, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=modi">Narendra Modi</a> government is all set to initiate a massive advertisement campaign in print media and on radio and television glorifying the anniversary of the ‘<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/topic/Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan">Swachh</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/topic/Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan"> Bharat Mission’</a>. 
 
On October 2, Prime Minister Modi’s pet project of cleanliness completes a year. To commemorate the success, Modi’s ministers have received plan blueprint from the PM himself. 
 
Modi has formed a team of ministers to plan a 17-day anniversary celebration between September 25 and October 11. The team includes Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Road Transport Minister <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Nitin+Gadkari">Nitin Gadkari</a>, Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore. 
 
Apart from advertisements, there would be appraising performance of all the states and printing the achievements in booklets. The chief ministers of the states would also be roped in and encouraged to conduct walkathons with the high-profile Swachh Bharat ambassadors. The states have also been asked to rope in governors to administer the "Swachhta pledge" to government officials to keep their surroundings clean. 
 
The government will also honour NGOs and volunteers who have contributed in the cleanliness programme. Swachh Bharat ambassadors would also visit households where toilets have been built under the scheme. 
 
 A senior government official told The Economic Times, "We plan to organise events in states and in the capital with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan brand ambassadors like Baba Ramdev, actor Kamal Hassan and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.” 
 
(Image: PIB)

Swachh Bharat’s first anniversary will be huge! Modi is ensuring the Govt goes all out

<keyword id="6357203" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Varanasi">Varanasi</keyword>, the ancient city in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/uttar-pradesh-is-going-high-on-incredible-tourism-campaign-heres-the-man-behind-it/articleshow/56036313.cms">Uttar Pradesh</a>, which is also PM <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>'s Lok Sabha constituency, is always dubbed as the spiritual capital of India and nothing more. 
 
However, this perception is about to change as Varanasi is all set to be placed on the international diplomacy map, by playing host to G20 financial and economic policy bureaucrats meet on March 28th and 29th. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/PM-Modis-Varanasi-26-other-cities-make-it-to-Smart-City-list/articleshow/54427786.cms">PM Modi’s Varanasi, 26 other cities make it to Smart City list</a> 
 
Besides delegates from the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/the-13-most-valuable-residences-of-g20-world-leaders/articleshow/56033478.cms?format=slideshow">G20 countries</a>, it would also play host to officials from the International Monetary Fund, <keyword id="6354424" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Bank">World Bank</keyword>, OECD and the Asian Development Bank, a senior government official told ET. 
 
Owing to the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Modis-Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan-gets-one-more-partner/articleshow/54561345.cms">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</a> that started two and a half years back, in which <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/modi-now-wants-to-limit-cash-transactions-at-rs-2-lakh/articleshow/57755412.cms">Modi</a> is taking a personal interest, the ghats of Varanasi have undergone a speedy transformation. Earlier, it used to be one of the dirtiest cities in the country. 
 
The last time such a meeting was held in India was when the officials met in the beach state of Goa, India’s one of the favourite tourist destinations. 
 
(Image source: Exotic India Art)

Varanasi will host financial leaders from G20 countries

New Delhi, Jan 17 () Progress across major development schemes in India, including education, health and nutrition among others, remains constrained due to sub-optimal utilisation of available funds, especially at the district level, according to a recent study by Tata Trust.
The study by Tata Trust and Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) stressed that India needs to improve utilisation of budgetary resources, across all levels of governance, given the limited fiscal space available to the government.
"Progress across major development schemes in India, including education, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, agriculture and rural development, livelihood, among others, remains constrained due to sub-optimal utilisation of available funds, especially at the district level," Tata Trust said in a statement.
According to statement, pressing challenges related to staff shortages, their capacity, transparency and
accountability in public financial management, monitoring have not received adequate attention.
"These need to be addressed urgently. There are also concerns with respect to the quality in fund utilisation across schemes," it said.
The 2-year study focused on ten social sector schemes including Sarva Shikshya Abhiyan (SSA), Mid-Day Meal (MDM), National Health Mission (NHM), Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).
 Other schemes included National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employement Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in five districts across of Balasore and Bolangir in Odisha, Chandrapur in Maharashtra, East Singhbhum in Jharkhand, and Krishna in Andhra Pradesh. BKS MKJ

Progress of top development schemes remains constrained in India: Study

The government has managed to collect a total of Rs 329.6 crore within a month from the 0.5 per cent <keyword id="2692614" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-cess">Swachh Bharat cess</keyword> imposed on all <keyword id="640715" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="taxable-services">taxable services</keyword>. "The provisional figures of Swachh Bharat cess collected till December 16, 2015, is about Rs 329.6 crore," MoS Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to the <keyword id="48510" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajya-Sabha">Rajya Sabha</keyword>. 

	The government had imposed the cess with effect from November 15 to fund Swachh Bharat programme. 
 

	Between November 15 and March 31, 2016, the revenue estimated to be collected is about Rs 3,750 crore, Sinha said. 
 

	The minister added that the proceeds collected through the cess would be allocated to the state governments to fund Swachh Bharat initiatives. 
 

	The amount estimated to be collected from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Swachh+Bharat">Swachh Bharat</a> cess on all taxable services which are not exempt or in negative list in a full financial year is about Rs 10,000 crore. 
 

	Revenue for the next financial year has not been estimated so far, he said. 
 With the Swachh Bharat cess, the <keyword id="118144" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Service-tax-rate">Service Tax rate</keyword> has gone up to 14.5 per cent from 14 per cent. 
	 
	(Image credits: BCCL)

Swachh Bharat cess garners Rs 329 crore in a month!

Nearly ten months after the Prime Minister Narendra <keyword id="6354642" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Modi">Modi</keyword> assumed office, his ambitious projects meant for the betterment of the society seems to be ‘full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’. As per a news report by The Economic Times, Modi’s much hyped <keyword id="6361202" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat">Swachh Bharat</keyword> scheme has suffered a <keyword id="841422" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="budget-cut">budget cut</keyword> of Rs 635 crore across the country for the fiscal year 2015-16. 
 
However, this move might mean a better execution of the projects. With less funds involved and better grounding of the projects, this might mean less misuse of the funds at various levels. 
 
Erstwhile Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh’s Integrated Child Development Scheme for undernourished children in anganwadis has also been cut by a whopping cut of Rs 9,858 crore, which is less than half of last year's budget of Rs 17,858 crore. 
 
According to the financial daily, the Modi government has also cut funds to the Rashtirya Grameen Drinking Water Scheme that sees a slash of Rs 8,390 crore. 
 
Even the allocation for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan(SSA) has come down drastically from Rs 9,193.75 crore last year to just Rs 2,000 crore. SSA has garnered a mounting success over the years in most parts of the country where school drop outs were on rise. 
While the Congress in opposition has managed to activate the blame mode towards the ruling BJP, political experts opine that this would enhance the investment in infrastructures, agriculture and agribusiness, research and innovation, upgradation of industries, foreign investment, secondary education and vocational training . 
 
Political analyst Harish Ramaswamy has told the financial daily that the allocations were "more practical and pragmatic" this time, as states often did not utilise the funds that were allotted to them. 
 
(Image: India Times)

Modi’s pet scheme, ‘Swachha Bharat’ now lacks funds!

It is the <keyword id="3862167" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Toilet-Day">World Toilet Day</keyword> and India needs to get its house in order in terms of sanitation. Many people don’t even know that it is their basic human right to water and sanitation. 
 
Reportedly, out of 120 crore people in the world who defecate in open, 59% are from India. Lack of toilets does raise a stink on various such as hygiene, sanitation and also security regarding women. 
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had vouched for building toilets in the country while launching his ‘<keyword id="2517872" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat-Abhiyan">Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</keyword>’ on October 02 last year. 
 
While, the campaign saw lot of investment from the government’s side, India has a long way to go to have each and every household with a toilet. 
 
Meanwhile, when everyone is talking about building toilets, we have some funny pictures of signs outside washrooms found in India. 
 
Here’s a look 
 
(Images: Pininterest, Indiatimes, LOLIndian.com)

World Toilet Day: Here are 6 funny signs outside restrooms in India

Providing relief to SEZ units and developers, the <keyword id="47209" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Ministry">Finance Ministry</keyword> today said they will be entitled to refund of the Swachh Bharat cess, a levy imposed by the government from November last year to fund its cleanliness drive. 

	"The SEZ Unit or the Developer shall be entitled to refund of the Swachh Bharat Cess paid on the specified services on which ab-initio exemption is admissible but not claimed," the Central Board of Excise and Customs said in a notification.
 

	It has also specified a formula for calculating refund due to SEZ units and developers. 
 Government had imposed 0.5 per cent Swachh Bharat cess on taxable services from November 15, 2015. With the imposition of the cess, <keyword id="6355686" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Service-tax">service tax</keyword> rate has gone up from 14 per cent to 14.5 per cent. The cess is levied only on the portion of taxable services (after abatement) and will go towards <keyword id="6357455" type="EVENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Funding">funding</keyword> of the Swachh Bharat scheme, a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The concessions provided to the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is expected to generate some interest of investors in them. Investors have been losing interest in these zones for various reasons including global economic slowdown, imposition of minimum alternate tax (MAT) and dividend distribution tax ( <keyword id="375780" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="DDT">DDT</keyword>). 

	Many business houses have surrendered SEZs while the government on its part has given more time to some developers to execute the projects. 
	 
	(Image credit: BCCL)

You Searched For "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan funds" and got 12 results

If you don’t claim your PF now, it could end up in government’s kitty

BI India Bureau

Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra will power up Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

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Tax Alert! You could soon be paying cess for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan!

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India Inc wants deferment in Swachh Bharat cess, says it will affect ease of doing business

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SDMC to make restrooms in South Delhi hotels and restaurants open to all

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Swachh Bharat’s first anniversary will be huge! Modi is ensuring the Govt goes all out

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Varanasi will host financial leaders from G20 countries

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Progress of top development schemes remains constrained in India: Study

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Swachh Bharat cess garners Rs 329 crore in a month!

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Modi’s pet scheme, ‘Swachha Bharat’ now lacks funds!

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World Toilet Day: Here are 6 funny signs outside restrooms in India

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