Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (Social media)
National News: Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to reconsider the tax rates on the bidi industry and plastic waste in the upcoming GST Council meeting. The organization says that the current high rates on these are not only hurting livelihoods but also creating an employment crisis for millions of poor families.
SJM national co-convenor Ashwini Mahajan said in his letter that the imposition of 28 percent GST on bidi production is proving to be fatal for cottage industries and rural employment. A large number of women and small workers making bidis are now facing financial crises. Also, workers working in the unorganized sector are also deprived of social security schemes.
Mahajan also called the 18% tax on plastic waste unfair. He says that earlier only 5% tax was levied on it, due to which the poor garbage pickers got some financial support. But now due to the increase in rates, their income has reduced and their enthusiasm to work has decreased. This situation can also adversely affect the objectives of Prime Minister Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
SJM clearly says that when the government is preparing to consolidate GST into two slabs—5% and 18%—then the sector related to bidi and plastic waste should be brought under the 5% category. This will protect cottage industries and provide relief to small businessmen.
Workers associated with the bidi industry, tendu leaf collectors, distributors, and retailers—all are affected by this decision. At the same time, lakhs of people who collect plastic waste and put it into recycling come from the lowest strata of the society, whose livelihood is completely dependent on it.
The two-day meeting of the GST Council chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman starts on Wednesday. Ministers from all states will participate in it, and possible changes in tax rates will be discussed.
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