Letters: Keep tabs on net worth

With reference to the report, "Govt looks to curb domestic circulation of black money" (November 23), the measures being taken by the Central Board of Direct Taxes and other regulators are necessary and commendable and will definitely reduce the middle class taxpayers' temptation to evade taxes in an attempt to reduce their expenditure. But these measures are incapable of tracking black money, which is a product of several corrupt practices. Perhaps, for regulators, even the black money becomes white, once the tax and, where applicable, the penalty have been paid.

In India, black money gets accumulated as immovable property, assets in the form of precious metals and undervalued investments. As a country, we have a soft corner for organisations engaged in social and charitable/religious work and vested interests take advantage of this.

Huge election expenditures prompt the political leadership to allow a different treatment for enforcement of law with respect to their funding sources. While addressing such issues may take time, awareness about black money will likely reduce its accumulation.

A beginning could be made by asking each elected representative in Parliament, state Assemblies and local bodies to submit to the House he represents, every year, a list of individuals/organisations in his constituency whose net worth is above a pre-decided threshold limit.

M G Warrier Mumbai

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