Common service centres to function as GST Suvidha Providers

New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) Aiming to facilitate implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime across the country, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday inaugurated a workshop here on common service centres (CSC) as 'GST Suvidha Provider', an official said.

The CSCs will help merchants' registration, filing returns and support them in fulfilling various requirements under GST. They will mobilise, conduct training and create advocacy of GST implementation across the country, an official statement said.

Prasad said: "GST means one nation, one tax. GST Suvidha Provider service that is being rolled out today is a big opportunity for village level entrepreneurs (VLE)."

He hoped that the VLEs would rise to the occasion and help the government in reaching out to the merchants.

"CSC is a big army in this country," he said, adding: "I always say that companies should use the vast network of CSCs. In the Digital era, the role of CSCs is tremendous. Today, 2 crore people have downloaded BHIM App. CSCs should make it popular in their community. In the digital economy, the demand of CSCs' services will become tremendous. Every VLEs should train one woman from tribal and backward communities."