With the October 31 deadline for the filing of returns under form no. 2 C only a week away, only a handful of eligible assesses have filed returns. According to highly-placed I-T department sources, out of the three lakh assessees in the city, an astonishingly low number of only 1100 people have filed returns.

The lacklustre response and its deadline drawing closer have caused panic in the IT circles. The department is now planning a massive public awareness campaign in the local media.

The near crisis situation is evident with the New Delhi headquarters dashing off a fax message to the Pune IT office yesterday instructing it about the awareness campaign.

Launched against the backdrop of the much-publicised and successful voluntary disclosure of income scheme and availing of permanent account number scheme, the filing of returns hasso far failed to generate much response.

Against high expectations, the saral form for filing return of income has proved of little help to evoke a good response. The IT echelons were expecting the total figure of returns filed to surpass the existing number of approximate three lakh assessees.

The two counters for filing the returns opened at the PMT building in Swargate are far from busy with negligible turnout for the scheme. Even reminders to existing income tax assessees have not borne any fruit.

As a last-minute rescue measure, the department is gearing up to run a massive media campaign to create awareness about the scheme.

Said a senior IT officer: ``From October 23, the department will launch a poster and banner campaign on taxable income limit, the six eligibility criteria and address of the counter where to file returns.'' Advertisements will soon be released in the press, the officer added.

``We are expecting an increase in the flow of people during the last six days. If need be,two additional counters will be opened at the PMT building,'' he said.