Letters: Unjustified proposal

The editorial, "Provident budgeting" (March 2), makes a futile attempt to justify taxing the Employee Provident Fund. It says that all those objecting to the tax are selfish and want to enjoy freebies.

Countries with tax rates equal to or lower than India's provide their citizens with several facilities for free, including quality education and excellent health care, apart from good law and order and infrastructure. In India, taxpayers have to send their children to private schools and get themselves treated at private hospitals due to lack of quality facilities at government-run institutions.

Taxpayers end up giving up half or more of their earnings in direct and indirect taxes. In such a situation is it justified to tax self-earned retirement benefits?

Sanjay Tanwani Gurgaon

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