Taxing Tom Tom

I came across this snippet "Taxing Tom Tom" in "The Week" (The weekly magazine). Goverment goes creative. Goverment goes nasty. Government makes money.

The good citizens of Rajmuhndry, Andhra Pradesh get up everyday to the sound of music. Alright, almost music. The authorities have hired 20 drummers to wake up all the tax defaulters every morning. (Talk about morning alarms). These hapless defaulters are then asked to pay up the tax or go through the wrath the next morning as well. And would you believe it, these drummers have had some success. Authorities have been able to collect 18% of their tax deficit from these defaulters. Or who knows may be from their helpless neighbours.

Its nasty business, but its good to see that someone in the politicians or babus (bearaucracy) still has some sense of humour and quite a bit of imagination.