NEW DELHI, July 22, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – The Indian government on Saturday
exempted sanitary pads used by women from the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
GST was reduced on many other items, said an official statement issued by
finance minister Piyush Goyal.
It had been a year-long demand from various sections of the society to
exempt sanitary pads from tax. The demand particularly picked up after the
Bollywood movie “Padman” hit the movie screens earlier this year, which
focused on the use of sanitary pads, thereby triggering a debate over use of
sanitary pads by women.
Talking about sanitary pads socially has been a taboo in the society so
far, even as even today women shy away from taking the name of sanitary pads
publicly in India.
Among other items on which GST has been reduced include footwear, small
television sets, water heater, electric ironing machines, refrigerators,
lithium ion batteries, hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, food appliances and
ethanol, said Goyal.
Besides, tax rates on worked up kota stone (a particular stone mainly found
in western state of Rajasthan), sand stone and similar quality of local
stones were cut from 18 percent to 12 percent.
Meanwhile, GST on 17 items used by the middle class like paints,
refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, storage water heaters, TVs
up to 68 cm was reduced from 28 percent to 18 percent, added the minister.
The decision to reduce taxes were taken at the 28th meeting of the GST
Council held in New Delhi on Saturday. The next GST Council meeting will be
held on August 4.