"How much tax I pay to fund eduction budget of India?"
A gentleman in his forties asked his co-passenger as I watched outside the window of the moving train.
"Eduction cess - 3%"
"Yes..but I saw Primary education cess and higher education surcharge"
"Primary education 2% and higher education 1%"
"But there is one more tax you pay implicitly" said the co-passenger.
"There is no other education tax. You might be mistaken"
The conversation was getting interesting.
"My kid goes to private school. This year they have set aside 25% seats under Right to Education quota."
"But what it was to do with tax. I totally support RTE that gives the socially disadvantaged children access to private schools."
" You're getting me wrong. Even I support the idea. However, the schools revenue base has shrinked to 75%"
" Ah... I see what you are getting. I never realised that. So now I am also paying for those 25% seats - in addition to education cess..."
"Primary and higher education cess" the other gentleman corrected him.
"That's so fascinating. What an innovating way of indirect taxation!"
They laughed.
Far out of the window in the paddy fields, I saw three children throwing stones on a Mango tree. I hoped that a part of my earnings reaches them to make their life better.
