What price, GST?

The meetings of the Empowered Committee (ECs) of State Finance Ministers in Delhi rarely see participation from all state ministers and officials, but the EC’s recent trip to Europe to study the GST model there saw more than 100 per cent attendance. The finance ministry had sanctioned the names of 42 people for the trip, allowing one minister and one official from each state. However, Indian embassies in the European countries they visited had to make arrangements for 51 people. As many as 10 people in the group (including ministers and officials) were accompanied by their spouses or children or both. In these cash-strapped times, the finance ministers of both Assam and Jharkhand were accompanied by two officials each. Many of these states, including the poor ones, allowed their ministers to stay in five-star suites. GST may prove to be a costly affair for states if it is not implemented soon.