Zardozi workers to protest against GST today

LUCKNOW: Fearing that the new tax regime will kill their craft, thousands of zardozi workers of the city will protest against GST on Monday. Their peaceful march will start at 10 am at the Clock Tower in Hussainabad and culminate at the Rumi gate.

Under the banner of ‘Aari Zardozi Kamgar Samiti’, the artisans will register their objection to the implementation of the goods and services tax on hand embroidery.

“The move did not take into consideration facets like feasibility in current business environment. Reeling under the growing popularity of machine-embroidered cheaper fabrics, the handicraft industry will be crippled under the GST. It will severely impact the labour force employed by the sector,” said Divjyot Singh Chawla, general secretary, Aari Zardozi Kamgar Samiti.

“Till now, handicrafts have been exempted from all taxes in Uttar Pradesh. We paid tax only if we sold our products in other states. But after GST, this will change,” said a zardozi worker.

Representatives of the industry are planning to meet union finance minister, Arun Jaitley, to seek exemption for handicrafts, and talk to him about the ground realities of the unorganised sector. “The government is promoting ‘Make in India’, but at the same time it is imposing tax on handicrafts. GST on zardozi will force designers and traders to go for machine works, which will hit the industry hard,” said a zardozi artisan.