National
Taxpayers’ data does not pose risk of violation of privacy: GSTN
By Meghna Mittal
New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) The taxpayers’ GST information does not pose any risk towards violation of people’s privacy as the data is not shared with anybody and even the Goods and Services Tax Network or its Board members cannot view it, GSTN said on Thursday.
GSTN is the information-technology backbone of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The statement comes against the backdrop of Supreme Court ruling on Thursday which declared the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right and must be protected as an intrinsic part of life and personal liberty and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
“The Supreme Court order applies to everybody. Right to privacy applies to everybody. But the security of the GST data will not be compromised because we are not sharing it with anybody,” GSTN Chairman Navin Kumar told IANS.
Kumar said that the data of the taxpayers is encrypted, which remains on the servers and goes directly to the tax department.
On being asked if ownership of private stakeholders in GSTN might compromise data security, he said: “Why should it impose any risk? ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, HDFC are on the Board. They don’t have any access to the data. We also do not have access to the data. The data is on the servers, it comes from taxpayers and goes to the tax department.”
GSTN is a private organisation with the Centre and state governments owning 24.5 per cent stake each, while HDFC, NSE Strategic Investment Corporation, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank own 10 per cent each. LIC Finance holds 11 per cent stake in GSTN.
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy had also earlier raised doubts over the majority stake of GSTN being held by private players, which he said might compromise the data security.
But Kumar said: “We have elaborate security system. We have ISO 27001 certified information security managment system (ISMS). which is best standard of information security system.”
“We have layered security structure, starting with physical security, network security, application security, data security, etc. These are the various layers at which security is ensured. There is also a third party audit,” he added.
GSTN also has in place 24×7 security operations centre, which keeps a watch on the data coming and going.
“If there is any suspicious activity, they can raise alarm and action can be taken. We have elaborate security. There is a team of people monitoring it,” he added.
The Supreme Court’s decision on Right to Privacy may have an impact on the petitions challenging the making of Aadhaar mandatory. Kumar said that the Aadhaar information is shared with various traders and organisations but this is not the case in GST.
In some cases, though taxpayers themselves share the information with private GST Suvidha Providers (GSPs), but GSTN does not come into the picture. “GSTN cannot prevent taxpayers not to give data to GSPs. Taxpayers are giving their data to GSPs, not us. So the data leak cannot happen from GSTN,” he added.
(Meghna Mittal can be reached at [email protected])
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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