Overview of the Federal Customs Service of Russia and lessons for

Indian Customs: The FCSR is as much a border-control agency as is a revenue generator. In fact, at Airports, the Customs window is designated “Customs and Border Control”. Being a maturing economy, revenue generation is still the first priority. However, given Russia’s long borders, the Customs doubles up as a second layer of defence. Customs Control(Preventive) is a crucial and indispensable arm of the Customs machinery and is considered a prestigious posting and held in high regard. For this very purpose, the FCSR has its own dedicated Canine Service, with 1200 fully trained Sniffer Dogs deployed in active field service. Being a nuclear state with an ever looming possibility of smuggling out of nuclear material and technology, Russian Customs has deployed Radioactivity detection Scanners at its major Airports (including at the Domododevo International Airport, which we visited). With our exclusive focus on revenue-generation in India, we could also learn a lesson or two from the Russian disposition. Like Russia, India too has long land and sea borders, is geo-strategically situated and is surrounded by security-sensitive neighbors. In my opinion, our focus on Customs Control and Prevention has been rather inadequate.

An interesting fact about Russian Customs is that unlike India, Russia duties Exports also; and close to 60% of the Federal Customs revenue is realized through Export duties. In spite of the huge volume of trade and the fact that both exports and imports attract duty, I was surprised to note that there was single window clearance facility of Air Cargo/Unaccompanied Baggage at the Domododevo Airport. There was neither our Group-system nor the Export-Import bifurcation.

Policy-level initiatives that could be emulated: Russia has formed a Customs Union with Belarus and Kazakhstan, whereby the Russian Customs border extends to the State borders of Belarus and Kazakhstan. There are no Customs borders for either Control/Prevention or for movement of merchandise between Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan. This is an economic integration exercise and trade-facilitation measure, which India could adopt in the South Asian context.

Broad appraisal of the Visit and the Russian experience: As I had mentioned at the very outset, the Programme was as much an exercise in Cultural Exchange as it was a Professional one.

(i) We visited quite a few Russian cultural and historical sites, including the Red Square, the Moscow Kremlin, ages-old Russian Orthodox Churches, St. Petersburg, the Lavra(Monastery) at SergeivPosad and State Art Galleries and Museums of high cultural significance for the Russians.

Among the lessons learnt was that there has been a conscious effort made by the Russian state to inculcate in its people a strong sense of one-ness as a nation and imbibe in the citizens a deep-rooted appreciation and love of Russian history and the Russian cultural and artistic legacy. This effort is made through the many state-sponsored Art galleries and Museums which celebrate the work and achievements of Russian artistic geniuses-from painters to sculptors to poets, and the Russian historical icons-from the Czars to the Soviet war heroes.

As a matter of fact, Russian literature is a compulsory subject in the curriculum of the formative years of education. As a result, even a moderately educated Russian has a fair knowledge of Russian history, art and architecture.

In NACEN, we could make an attempt to inculcate this culture of awareness of our achievements in the field of art by including in the curriculum compulsory visits to all the Delhi-based National Art Galleries and Museums. And even a Quiz on it, perhaps.

Russians celebrate their dance forms, ballet being the most popular of them all. Our visit to one of Moscow’s well known Soviet-era theatres to witness a performance of the celebrated “Swan Lake”,was a unique experience. NACEN could also organize performances by noted Indian classical dancers and musicians so that interest in traditional Indian music and dance could be inspired in the Probationers.

(ii) The RCA atmosphere is that of a college, full of students with happy-go-lucky attitude. They have regular cultural programmes and competitions in their state-of-the-art auditorium (one of which we participated in). We were quite impressed with the talent pool and creativity of the RCA students. They were evidence that work and play perfectly complement each other. They were playful and professional, in equal measure.

The energy and creativity of the young RCA trainees actually makes one think that we in India should seriously consider lowering the age-limit for the Civil Services. The RCA experience makes a strong case for a younger Civil Services aspirant profile. Youth certainly brings with it a generous dose of freshness and a spirit of adventure.

(iii) Russians exude a great deal of warmth towards Indians, the reasons being our deep-rooted historical and cultural engagement. This love towards the Indian people is all the more palpable in the government officers from the Soviet-era, given their closer understanding and appreciation of India-USSR relations. They remember the likes of Pandit Nehru, Mrs.Indira Gandhi and Raj Kapoor with great love and admiration. This recognition of the historical Indo-Russian friendship is not so evident in the new, post-1991 generation. If the love and warmth of the Soviet times is to persist, India has to consciously and vigorously engage the new generation in Russia on the cultural front, with greater promotion of people-people exchanges.Till this happens, one can only hope that the young Russian of today imbibes some of this warm sentiment from the Soviet veterans.

(iv) Historically, all great cities have been centred around river banks. Rivers add a great of aesthetic value to the cityscape. The Neva flows through St.Petersburg and the Moskva through Moscow. These two rivers have been kept pollution-free and are neatly embanked. They lend great beauty and glamour to both these historical cities. Delhi too has the fortune of the Yamuna, but we have done nothing whatsoever to clean, nurture and beautify this historical river. We are throwing away a natural and aesthetic advantage we have in terms of the Yamuna in Delhi and many more such rivers in other Indian cities.

Suggestions for the future: There exists for us a high scope for learning in the technical sphere. Indian Customs officers could be trained in Russia in the deployment and use of field equipment. We may even buy Russian technological know-how and field equipment as these, we were told, are more rugged and much less expensive than their European/American analogues. Only that Russia lacks the marketing skills of the West!

An exchange programme for middle-level officers (with the FCSR) would be even more beneficial. The student exchange entails very few visits to field formations. An exchange of officers at the middle-level would better equip them to meet field requirements and exigencies at home, learning from the Russian experience.

In fact, Russian Customs is a near-perfect place to learn Customs Control/Prevention given their vast experience in Narcotics and counterfeit goods trafficking.

The Conclusion: In perspective, the Customs services of our two countries have a lot to learn from each other’s experiences and mutually benefit by their sharing. In this regard, NACEN’s initiative in signing of an MoU with the Russian Customs is a progressive and forward-looking step. The partnership between the two apex Customs training Academies so forged is bound to strengthen and grow in the years to come. I, for one, am proud to be among the pioneers in this project.

No words of gratitude and appreciation would do justice to the help, direction and guidance provided by Shri Balaji Majumdar, First Secretary (Trade), Embassy of India, Moscow during our Russia visit. The warmth that he exuded and the hospitality which he extended will forever be associated with the memories of our RCA visit.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 842