Rs 200 monthly tax pinches low paid contractual staff

Amritsar: Low paid contractual employees are a disturbed lot as they are being charged Rs 200 as monthly tax by the state government. A contractual employee working with the district administration said they had to pay Rs 2,400 annually as tax. The government seemed to be interested only in increasing its revenue. On the other hand, inflation was spiralling, burning a hole in their pockets. There was no fixed timing to raise their salaries, he said. Another contractual employee of the Education Department was of the same opinion. About 37 lakh assessees of the state would have to shell out professional tax of Rs 2,400 annually as per the recommendations of the state Budget. TNS