Mumbai: CNBC Awaaz, the Hindi language business news channel from TV18 has been promoting the 'Tax Ghatao Andolan', a first-of-its-kind initiative that aims at pioneering a revolutionary movement for tax relief, prior to Finance Minister P Chidambaram's Budget 2008.

Subhash Lakhotia, tax planner extraordinaire is championing the 'cause of the common man' through this pan India initiative, by travelling in the 'Tax Ghatao Andolan Bus' voicing the common man's opinion. The bus has covered cities such as Surat, Ahmedabad, Nasik Nagpur and Pune, and reached Mumbai on 12 February.

Through this initiative, CNBC Awaaz plans to give the common man an opportunity to voice their tax woes directly to the Finance Minister. The initiative aims at voicing the opinion of the masses, a clarion call to the finance minister to bring out the case for moderation in taxes in the light of increased compliance by the salaried class and corporate India

Commenting on the initiative, Sanjay Pugalia, editor, CNBC Awaaz said, ''The predominant feeling among taxpayers this year is that they should be rewarded for better compliance that has resulted in bumper tax collection. For us, the challenge was to channelise this feeling and make it heard in the power corridor. The kind of response we have been getting everywhere we travelled suggests that we have succeeded in capturing the popular mood''.

There are a lot of expectations which people have from the budget but the main concerns of the budget for the masses are the tax modifications.

Priyanka Tiku Tripathi, brand head at CNBC Awaaz said, ''CNBC Awaaz has always been instrumental in giving a platform to the voice of the Indian consumer and Tax Ghatao Aandolan is yet another initiative in the same direction. As the Tax Ghaatao Aandolan travels through the country, it will give a voice to the people of India, as they looked upto the FM for tax relief.''

Personal taxation is one area which affects most individuals, particularly people belonging to the salaried class, as it is a direct impact.

With the finance minister recently hinting at direct tax rate reduction in the coming budget, the 'Tax Ghatao Andolan' bus will also help in providing insights to the tax related queries of the common man as well as highlighting their expectations from the upcoming budget.