MAM
Life is much more than mad rush: Smile India’s Shifa Maitra
NEW DELHI: The novel coronavirus pandemic has left the whole world in a lurch with people going through a tough time. Quarantined in homes, there is a lot of regular hustle that the working class is missing these days but according to Shifa Maitra, the creator of ‘Smile India’ podcast for IVM, what these days of social distancing are rightfully teaching the world is that life is much more than being in mad rush all the time.
Currently working from home, Maitra feels it is a welcome change to not rush to work through maddening city traffic. However, she makes sure that she is well dressed and works regularly and takes brisk walk during the breaks.
She is looking at the brighter side as she does with her podcast. Speaking about the same, Maitra told us, “The idea behind the podcast was that as Indians we put a lot of premium on goodness and values. But somewhere across all the media, be it newspapers or television, or social media, we are only hearing the negatives. We are only discussing what is going wrong. But there are many things that are happening right as well. I thought there is a need to highlight that.”
She reveals that listening to podcasts like hers and watching meaningful and educational content, which many creators are working on for these times, one can look at things differently and relax a bit.
She also lauded the efforts that medical practitioners and several other people are making to contain the virus. “When you are sitting and cribbing about the fact that you can’t go to movie hall, there are a lot of people who are leaving their families behind and are working in hospitals.”
Maitra concluded that people should use this time productively and not let their spirits go down.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
