Five-fold strategy to deal with black money: Mukherjee
By ANIMonday, February 28, 2011
NEW DELHI - Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the government has adopted a five-fold strategy to deal with the problem of generation and circulation of black money.
Presenting the Budget in the Lok Sabha, Mukherjee said: The five-fold strategy consists of joining the global crusade against black money, creating an appropriate legislative framework, setting up institutions for dealing with illicit funds, developing systems for implementation and imparting skills to the manpower for effective action.
He further informed that while the membership of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was secured in June last year, the government has also joined the Task Force on Financial Integrity and Economic Development, Eurasian Group (EAG) and Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes.
” Discussions have also been concluded for 11 Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) and 13 new Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) along with revision of provisions of 10 existing DTAAs,” he said.
Mukherjee apprised that the amendment in the Money Laundering Legislation in 2009 has significantly increased its scope and application.
“The number of cases registered under this Law has increased to over 1200 by January this year. The strength of the Enforcement Directorate has been increased three-fold to deal effectively with the increased workload.
He informed that the Ministry of Finance has also commissioned a study on unaccounted income and wealth held within and outside the country. It would suggest methods to tax and repatriate this illicit money,” he said.
To strengthen controls over prevention of trafficking and improve the management of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, Mukherjee announced a comprehensive national policy in the near future. (ANI)
