National Politics

Odisha seeks withdrawal of GST on tendu leaves, CM writes letter to Centre

Naveen Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has requested the Centre to withdraw goods and services tax on Kendu (Tendu leaves).

In a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Patnaik said tendu leaf, a Minor Forest Produce, is the financial backbone of about 8 lakhs individuals, binders and seasonal workers of Odisha and mostly belongs to the tribal community and poorest of the poor of the society. “The tribal people collect the leaves as part of their right defined under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. They have the right to procure and sell these products,” the letter read.
Tendu leaves are widely used in making bidis.

Odisha CM said the imposition of 18 per cent GST on the leaves adversely affects their trade.

“This in turn affects the livelihoods of kendu leaves pluckers, binders and seasonal workers and implementation of social security and welfare schemes for them,” the letter added.

“In the interest of livelihoods of the Kendu leaves dependent community it is urged upon to withdraw the imposition of GST on Kendu leaves for the greater interest of the State of Odisha.”

The GST Council will next meet on December 17, 2022, in a virtual format.

“The 48th Meeting of the GST Council will be held on 17th December, 22022 by video conference,” the GST Council tweeted late Friday evening.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is the chairperson of the Council.

The 47th meeting was held in late June 2022, in Chandigarh.

 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by HW News staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Dear Readers,
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
Some error occurred

Related posts

International

Breaking: Despite Public Anger, Ranil Wickremesinghe Elected As Sri Lanka’s President

Tejas Joshi
Wickremesinghe

Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was temporarily handed over the reins of the crisis-hit Sri Lanka as Rajapaksa family quit government owing to public anger, has been elected as the 18th President of the island nation on Wednesday.

Wickremesinghe became the new President as he received 134 votes in the secret ballot that was held in Parliament today. 223 Members of Parliament had voted, while 2 MPs had abstained. 219 votes were valid and 4 votes were identified as invalid, Sri Lankan media reported.

MPs Dullas Alahapperuma and Anura Kuma Dissanayake were the two contenders against Wickremesinghe, who he defeated to take over the top post.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, following the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in the wake of massive protests, was given responsibility of the Prime Ministerial post. However, as public anger against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa grew, followed by him fleeing the country and resigning from the top post, Wickremesinghe was also given the responsibility of acting President.

A secret ballot, as per Sri Lanka’s constitution, was held in Parliament today to elect a new President. The process was initiated in order to complete the remaining tenure of the President.

223 Members of Parliament had voted, while 2 MPs had abstained. 219 votes were valid and 4 votes were identified as invalid, Sri Lankan media reported.

 

Related posts

News Hub