India's gross domestic product (GDP) could grow by three to four percent without any increase in investments if things are set in order in key sectors, says a leading bureaucrat-turned-NGO activist.

Jayaprakash Narayan, national coordinator of the NGO Lok Satta that is fighting for democratic reforms, told a news conference that reforms in education, healthcare, law and justice and indirect taxes could help GDP grow by three to four percent without any increase in investments.

He was addressing the media on the eve of a workshop on "Procedural improvement in indirect taxes". The two-day workshop, beginning June 16, is being organised here by VOTEINDIA, a non-partisan people's movement to create awareness for reforms.

It is supported by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).

The workshop will be followed by a similar interaction between the government, experts and industry in Mumbai later this month.

Narayan, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who quit his job to work for democratic reforms, said good administration in the area of excise and customs alone would add one percent to the country's GDP.

He said issues like discretionary powers of officials, harassment of industrialists and corruption should be addressed immediately.

"We have prepared a set of recommendations in consultation with the industry, experts, tax lawyers and retired and serving officials of the department," Narayan said.

The recommendations include making procedures simple and transparent, building trust between government functionaries and industry, better services to assessees, encouraging voluntary compliances, accountability, minimising litigation, improving efficiency and enhancing the image of the department.

However, Narayan made it clear the exercise will not go into issues like tax reduction or other legal matters.

"The exercise is not aimed at reducing indirect taxes because it will reduce the revenue of the government. Our recommendations will be either revenue neutral or revenue enhancing," he said.