Date:16/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/16/stories/2008111661100600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Tax on vehicles of private educational institutions to come down

Staff Reporter

— Photo: R.Ashok

recognising his services: Transport Minister K.N. Nehru honouring a teacher in Tiruchi on Saturday. Forests Minister N. Selvaraj (second from right), and former Minister S.P. Sarukuna Pandian, are in the picture.

TIRUCHI: The State Transport Department will bring down the vehicle tax on vans and buses of private educational institutions, Transport Minister K.N. Nehru said on Saturday.

Addressing a function to mark birth centenary celebrations of former Chief Minister Annadurai and the State conference of the Tamil Nadu Matriculation Schools Association and the Tamil Nadu Nursery and Primary Schools Association here, Mr. Nehru called office-bearers of the association for a discussion in Chennai with officials of the Transport Department for arriving at a revision in tax.

Mr. Nehru blamed the previous AIADMK government for the steep hike in quarterly tax on vehicles of educational institutions.

Arrears

A flat quarterly tax of Rs.150 a seat for school and college vans and buses had resulted in non-payment of tax by these institutions, resulting in arrears of Rs.8.50 crore. The DMK government had already reduced the per-seat tax for schools to Rs.50 for vans and Rs.100 for buses, while levying a uniform Rs.150 per seat for college vans and buses.

Pivotal role

Hailing the pivotal role private educational institutions played in providing educational opportunities, Mr. Nehru said he would take a decision on further reducing the vehicle tax for schools in consultation with officials in Chennai.

He appealed to those starting Teacher Training Institutes to strictly adhere to the norms on recognition.

Explaining the poor economic condition of students being admitted to these institutes, Mr. Nehru cited a few cases in which the students had been exploited by unrecognised institutes.