CII task force moots democracy cess for polls

A task force, set up by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has recommended legitimising political funding and sought imposition of a "democracy cess" of 0.2 per cent on all income tax payers, including corporates, for funding political activity and elections in the country. The CII task force on electoral reforms, which presented its report to Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi on Wednesday has also recommended the cess be paid directly by the tax payer through cheque into the account of any political party of his or her choice recognised by the EC.