Rajat Deb

Tax Perception and Tax Evasion

The study attempts to report the factors that are responsible for people’s perceptions about taxation, in general, and tax evasion, in particular. The study frames a model, based on which research hypotheses are derived. Adopting crosssectional research design, a survey was carried out on a sample of 125 respondents. A pre-test was also carried out to test the reliability and validity of the interview-schedule before the actual survey was executed. Factor analysis was applied for data reduction. Results of inferential statistics show the influence of selective demographics on tax perception and tax evasion, with other factors such as provisions for penalty and prosecution and rates of tax also influencing the taxpayers’ decisions. While acknowledging a few shortcomings, the relevance of the study in policy-making has been enumerated. In conclusion, a road map for further studies has been indicated.

Determinants of Savings in Sukanya Samriddhi Account: Evidence from Tripura

The financial inclusion models that have been implemented successfully in various parts of India have not gained momentum in North East India. The inherent characteristics of the states in this region and the prominence of several informal financial systems are some of the reasons for the failure of the formal financial inclusion models. This study made an attempt to examine the determinants of savings under the Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA), a formal financial inclusion scheme advocated by the Government of India for the betterment of girl children. The study area comprised the eight districts of Tripura, one of the states of North East India. The data for the case study was collected through scheduled interviews with 225 respondents, who had a girl child below the age of 10 years. The results, arrived at through a statistical analysis, showed that the pivotal catalysts determining the decisions whether to invest in the SSA scheme were: gender, age, level of income, family size and income, financial literacy, uncertainty of income and planning for child’s education, marriage and house. The relevance of the finding of the study in terms of policy-making has been highlighted.

A Practical Approach Towards Managing Government Funds in Tripura

The study examines the perception of the employees working in different State Government Departments in Tripura, and of university and college students about funds management in government sector. It obtained primary data from 160 respondents consisting of 96 men and 64 women from all the eight districts of Tripura using judgement and quota sampling technique through schedule and personal interviews. Different statistical tests like Students t-test, Pearsons Chi-square test, and factor analysis like Principal Component Analysis were performed to assess support for the hypotheses. The reliability of the questions and sample adequacy test was also carried out. Through factor analysis, four major factors viz. perceptions about the philosophy of Government accounting, perceptions about lack of financial literacy of the DDOs, perceptions about dysfunctional bureaucracy, and perceptions about slack monitoring and controlling of Governments funds were extracted. Based on such factors, Students t-test was carried out. PCA has been carried out in order to analyze the various components and Chi-square test was carried out to know the association of the male and female respondents perceptions about effective funds management strategies. The results of the study suggest that DDOs lack adequate financial education, they blindly trust the cashier, and books of records are not properly maintained and updated. It also suggests that periodical training, regular updating of books of accounts, accessing net banking facility for keeping vigil and continuous internal control and audit should be initiated for efficient funds management and to prevent employees fraud.