In an innovative attempt to encourage customers to get proper receipts for their purchases, the Delhi government’s department of trade and taxes last year announced a scheme, “Bill Banvao, Inaam Pao,” under which cash awards are given to people public for submitting bills of their purchases

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who distributed cash awards to 49 winners under the scheme on Wednesday, described the innovative scheme as a “movement” against the tax evaders that is adding to the city’s collection of taxes.

Delhi Government officials said the scheme has been an instant hit ever since it was launched last year due to enthusiastic participation of the city residents.

“By uploading the bill, the people make sure that the VAT paid by them reaches the government and is used for the development of Delhi. Uploading of a bill is a very simple process and takes less than a minute,” VAT commissioner S.S. Yadav said.

He added that with agile participation of the public, many dealers doing business on cancelled TIN (Tax Identification Number), which is the registration number allotted to the dealers, or manipulating records were detected through this scheme. Mr Yadav said the scheme is a “silent monitor” to check and detect the city’s tax evading businesses. The scheme was launched by the AAP government last year to encourage the consumers to buy from registered dealers in the national capital.