Observations and proposals on MRA investigations

The Primary Schools’ Employees’ Union (PSEU) has received representations from its members regarding investigations being carried out on primary school teachers relating to their income and tax payments. We are making this representation along the lines they have raised with us and would be grateful if the content of this letter could meet your kind consideration.
1. First and foremost, the union wishes to point out that it does not raise objection to the principle of investigations carried out by the MRA. However, we believe that there is need for changes in the approach and conduct of inquiries being made.
2. The union believes that the MRA is fully aware of the differences which already exist between star and non-star schools. There is evidently a marked difference between the tuition fees claimed at the level of these distinct categories of schools.    
3. We are happy to note that  the MRA knows that in certain schools in villages and in deprived areas in particular, the number of pupils taking tuition is very low and the amount claimed is also not the same which is claimed elsewhere. In fact, there are schools where all pupils do not pay tuition fees and we know that many teachers also do their best to come to the help of the needy and do so for the benefit of the maximum number of pupils. In fact, there are dedicated teachers through whose effort and contribution the rate of pass at CPE level  has improved constantly during  a long  period of time.
4. The union understands that teachers are requested to produce bank accounts and in this respect we have been requested to inform that some  teachers like other grades of workers also have income from plantations, growing of vegetables etc. We consider that in keeping with the provisions of the law they also make mention of these incomes in their annual  and regular returns which they are compelled legally  to submit  on an annual basis.
5. What is cause for concern for the union pertains to what teachers  have termed as superfluous details requested by some officers. In fact, teachers have informed us that they have also been requested to submit information about the number of times they call at restaurants, to the sea etc. They have also been requested to state the quantum of money they spend on fuel, food and medicine.
6. As far as jewels are concerned, the union has been requested to point out that most of them have the jewels in their possession which are the ones they obtained  at  the time of their weddings. They obtained them from their in-laws.
7.  So far as income of  wives is concerned it is common knowledge that working wives submit their declarations either separately or jointly with their husband as required by the law of the land. Teachers deem the request for this information as unnecessary.
8. As for information relating to children,  it is also  common knowledge that it is  usual practice  for people  to include their  names as dependents  in the statement filed to the MRA.
The union believes that the request of superfluous information from teachers may be interpreted as a form of undue harassment and pressure  and as a union we are making this representation to request that as far as possible  requests for information  should be more reasonable.