COMMUNITY EXPRESSES CONCERN ON TAX RATES

“The GST will not only have a severe impact on the livelihood of disabled persons, but will take away the basic necessities available to them,” says All-India Confederation of the Blind (AICB) vice-president Anil K. Aneja.

With the GST Council broadly approving tax rates of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent to be levied on certain goods from July, the persons with disabilities (PwD) community believes the GST imposed on their basic equipment, including Braille books, Braille watches and specially designed vehicles, will cause serious hardships for them.

Following this, the AICB, a self-help national organisation of the blind having 26 affiliates across the country, has written to Union finance minister Arun Jaitley requesting him to reverse the decision taken by the GST Council.

The confederation has also submitted a representation to minister of social justice and empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot, urging him to intervene in the matter on a priority basis to ensure that the 5 to 18 per cent GST is immediately withdrawn.

As per the discussions in the GST Council meeting held on May 18, while 18 per cent GST will be levied on Braille typewriters, Braille paper will have a GST of 12 per cent.

Braille watches, carriages for disabled and cars for physically handicapped will have a GST of 12, 5 and 18 per cent respectively.