Direct Taxes Board Hasn’t Had a Dalit or Tribal Member in 30 Years

No member from the SC/ST community has been appointed in Central Board of Direct Taxes since 1987.

A statue of BR Ambedkar

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The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in India, which is responsible for the income tax among other things, hasn’t had a single Dalit or tribal employee in the last 30 years, reported the Hindustan Times.

In a reply to the parliamentary committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), the Board said, “As per the records available in the revenue department HQ, no member from the SC/ST community has been appointed as a member of CBDT since 1987. Information prior to 1987 is not available,” as quoted by HT.

The CBDT is a statutory authority which operates the functioning of Direct taxes and collection of Income tax in India. It consists of six members who are selected by the government from the panel of Indian Revenue Service.

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The list of senior officers is prepared by the Department of Personnel and Training and the Finance Ministry after consultation, picks the members. The members have to resign from the other service once selected.

The government brought out extensive policies for the unhindered inclusion of the Dalits and other backward castes.

The Mandal Commission, which was established in 1979 to represent the socially and economically backward sections in various government institutions, made process of reservation implementation smoother.

The demand for reservation has been extended to private sectors as well. The parliamentary panel was displeased with the working of the CBDT. Their main concern was related to the upliftment and benefit of the SC’s and ST’s.

Sometimes the late joining of many SC and ST candidates affects their service and they have to retire much before than acquiring a top position.

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