MP launches 'e-gatiman' to simplify trade process

Scheme enables traders to submit their transit-bills through SMS instead of 'Form 49'

To do away with the age old controversial Form-49 provision, which is mandatory for filing in case of goods are shipping towards Madhya Pradesh, state government today launched 'e-gatiman' project.

Aimed at simplifying the process of import and export of goods for traders in Madhya Pradesh, the 'e-Gatiman' scheme enables traders to submit their transit-bills through Short Message Service (SMS) instead of 'Form 49'.

"Goods transit-bills can be downloaded in electronic format and submitted through SMS," State Finance Minister Jayant Malaiya said here today.

"Once submitted the trader will receive a bar coded number on his mobile phone. This number can be shown at the state border commercial tax department check posts to get through transport of the goods." The bar coded 'e-gatiman' number should tally with the details furnished by the trader.

"It is a kind of declaration certificate which traders will receive on SMS, in lieu of detail hard copy, on their mobile phones. Later they can use Form-49 optionally while filing returns etc," the minister said.

Obtaining Form-49 remained a Herculean task for traders since previous Congress regime till the recent past as there was no online download facility in those days.

A hard copy of the Form-49 of Re 1 was available had higher rates. In the present BJP regime the form is available free of cost though downloading remained a persisting problem. Traders have a long pending demand to abrogate 'Form 49'. A trader has to furnish details of goods if he ships them from other states.

Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Bhopal Chambers of Commerce and Industries, even Confederation of Indian Industry had raised the issue at occasions as it caused delay in shipping goods.

In past state government had turned down the demand on account of encouraging results in tax collection. By furnishing details in Form-49, traders give all necessary details of transported goods to the state commercial tax department, which later determines taxes.

"Form-49 cannot be abolished as it is necessary in our state since we are not a supplying state like Maharashtra but ours is a consuming state," a well-placed official in the commercial tax department said and added, "the e-gatiman facility would address the problem."