Bidhannagar Civic Body Engages Women from Self-Help Groups for Door-to-Door Property Tax Collection

Kolkata: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to engage women from self-help groups (SHGs) to help with property tax collection. These women will go door-to-door in areas like Salt Lake and Rajarhat-Gopalpur, assisting residents with their tax payments.

The goal is to increase tax compliance, make payments easier for residents, and boost overall revenue. With this initiative, BMC aims to collect ₹44 crore in property tax this financial year, up from ₹40 crore last year.

Why This Initiative?

Property tax is crucial for the city’s infrastructure and development, but many residents struggle with online payment systems or forget to pay on time. To tackle this issue, BMC has introduced this new method where trained SHG women will personally visit homes, inform residents about their dues, and help them pay instantly using a mobile app.

BMC MMIC Debraj Chakraborty explained:

"There are many taxpayers who are not familiar with the online payment system. Women from self-help groups will be engaged, who will make door-to-door visits to assist taxpayers in paying their quarterly property tax bills on the spot. An app will be downloaded in their mobiles through which they can pay their tax."

This system ensures that homeowners don’t have to visit municipal offices or struggle with online portals, making tax payments smoother and more efficient.

How Will It Work?

• Self-help group women will receive a list of houses that have pending tax dues.
• They will visit these homes, inform the residents, and guide them on payment.
• A mobile app will be used to process payments instantly, providing digital receipts for transparency.
• This initiative will also help residents understand the exact amount they need to pay, preventing confusion.

An official from BMC highlighted the importance of this approach:

"Often taxpayers get confused as to what will be the actual tax to be paid, including dues. The self-help group women will have a list along with the exact amount to be paid by taxpayers."

This will reduce disputes, increase compliance, and ensure more efficient tax collection.

BMC has raised its property tax collection target from ₹40 crore last year to ₹44 crore this year. This increase in revenue is essential for civic improvements like road repairs, better water supply, and enhanced public services.

A BMC official noted:

"Until last year, residents of BMC wards 27 and 28, covering Mahisbathan and Nayapatti, did not pay property taxes. They used to pay 'Khajna'. Now, we have started the process of sending bills to residents of wards 27 and 28."

By shifting residents from an outdated system of 'Khajna' (land revenue payments) to the official property tax system, BMC is ensuring better governance and financial transparency.

Why This is a Win-Win for Everyone

• For Residents – No need to visit municipal offices; payments are made easier.
• For BMC – More revenue for city development and improved tax compliance.
• For Self-Help Group Women – A new source of income and financial empowerment.

This innovative approach combines technology, community participation, and better governance, making property tax collection more efficient and accessible. If successful, other cities may adopt similar methods to improve tax compliance and revenue collection.

With growing urbanization, such smart and inclusive initiatives will help cities like Bidhannagar develop more efficiently while empowering local communities.