From Concessions To Exploitation
By L Muralidharan
Chartered Accountant, L. Muralidharan & Co. Chennai, Practices Tax, Internal Audit and Statutory Audit, Founder – Sreeram Coaching Point, Coaching for CA Exams
Foreword by Venkat
It is researched that human brain has no limit to the amount of information it can retain in the long term memory structures. What about the human stomach? How much food can one eat in a meal? Clearly one cannot eat beyond a certain amount. We are an amalgamation of the infinite and the finite in our capabilities. Usually the infinite capacities are in the realm of our inner world in our mind. For example it may manifest as infinite patience or as an unending craving for pleasures. Thus, the attachment to the ‘bigger, easier and sooner’ is hard to resist in temptation. It clouds the mind from being aware of the optimal needs. Mr. Muralidharan brings a subject on a similar line of thought. He talks about how measures taken for the betterment of certain sections of society and fairness are abused by some people. Thus, measures to give the freedom of opportunity may in reality be usurped by some from those who are intended to actually receive their benefit.
Mr. Muralidharan supplements his views with some apt and common examples of the misuse of concessions and policies intended for the benefit of specific sections of society.
For some good triggers to think on the conundrum of societal policy vs benefit, please explore in this short piece of writing by Mr. Muralidharan.
Mr. Muralidharan L. qualified as CA at the young age of 21 and has been in the practice for 35 years now. He founded the Sreeram Coaching Point in 1989 to coach students appearing for CA exams. The areas of specialization in coaching are Financial Reporting, Accounting standards, Financial Management (Inter & Final), Costing and Income Tax. Many Rank holders in CA Exams came from his coaching class and particularly in CA Final Thrice his students stood AIR FIRST.
He is a qualified, Registered Valuer on Securities and Financial Assets, IOVRVF, New Delhi as well as qualified Insolvency Professional with IIPACSI. He is a speaker on IBC course of ICAI, SIRC, Hyderabad.
From Concessions To Exploitation
While measures are taken to normalize the past injustices, and to bring fairness to specific sections of society, they are seen to be exploited to greater advantages by some. This makes the effectiveness of such measures questionable and calls for an alternative approach or a stop to these preferential measures. I highlight below some instances from my experience on how preferential / differential treatments are exploited by ineligible people.
- When the ladies queue has lesser number waiting for services / goods purchases etc. a male member will try get the extra ticket through a lady. I got a train ticket (long time back in my experience) when I saw a friend of my relative in the ladies queue. Ours had at least 30 more in front of me. I was an ineligible person to get the preferential treatment but yet I made use of the opportunity.
- Senior citizens are provided with some extra rate of interest on financial deposits. Many among the younger generation, invest their deposits through senior citizens and exploit the scenario to their (ineligible) advantage.
- Some of my known contacts secured a community certificate of being the most under-privileged through some means while they are not. Thereby they acquired the most advantageous certificate to gain entry into an educational institution despite scoring minimum marks. They entered into the government services and enjoyed the privileges and are now nearing super-annuation.
This goes to substantiate that where there is a discrimination to provide concessions, people will try to exploit it to their advantage.
By L Muralidharan
Chartered Accountant, L. Muralidharan & Co. Chennai, Practices Tax, Internal Audit and Statutory Audit, Founder – Sreeram Coaching Point, Coaching for CA Exams