Patna, July 5 -- Criticising Bihar government for imposing monthly housing or maintenance tax of Rs 1,200 in panchayats, the Bihar Congress today dubbed the decision as impractical, contending that it is disconnected from ground realities in a state with widespread poverty where lakhs of families are struggling to survive on very low incomes.
Congress leader Rajesh Rathor alleged that the economic condition of lakhs of families makes such a levy "completely unrealistic and insensitive".
Rathor said that in a state where nearly 85 lakh families depend on five kilograms free foodgrains and around 10 crore people survive on an average income of around Rs 50 a day, imposing such a tax would amount to placing an additional burden on the poor....