India scraps goods tax on sanitary pads

INDIA has withdrawn a controversial tax on sanitary pads following a vocal campaign led by activists and Bollywood stars to boost female education and empowerment.

Saturday’s announcement is part of a number of changes to the national goods and services tax intended to cut the prices of key consumer goods.

Activists, celebrities and some politicians joined to oppose the 12 per cent tax.

A national survey report this year said around 60per cent of young women, aged from 16 to 24, did not have access to pads. The figure was as high as 80per cent for India’s poorer states.