Awareness programme on GST reforms

An awareness programme on recent reforms under GST and certificate distribution for GST Sahyogis was held at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur, on September 26.
SK Sinha, Chief Commissioner of CGST and Customs (North East Zone), graced the occasion as special guest. The event was attended by officials from central and state GST departments, along with representatives of local trade bodies.
As part of the GST Sahyogi pilot initiative, 35 youth from Nagaland underwent a two-week intensive training at CGST Dimapur, conducted by the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN), Shillong. Resource persons from Chennai, Lucknow, Kolkata, Guwahati and other centres imparted training on GST compliance tailored to Nagaland’s economic context.
Speaking at the programme, SK Sinha said the GST reforms would benefit all sections of society, citing reduced tax rates on essential commodities such as food items, medicines and education. He added that the trained GST Sahyogis would help bridge the gap between urban and rural areas, enabling taxpayers beyond Dimapur and Kohima to access assistance.
Additional Director NACIN, Isaac Kharkongor, stated that the GST Sahyogi programme is being piloted in Nagaland and will be scaled up nationally upon successful implementation.
Commissioner CGST Dimapur, SK Mahanta, described GST 2.0 as “citizen-centric reforms” aimed at consumer relief. He said several household items have moved into lower tax brackets, while a new 40% slab has been introduced for “sin and luxury goods.”