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12% GST on sanitary napkins fine, says Maneka Gandhi

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7 years ago

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New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Wednesday said that 12 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed on sanitary napkins is acceptable.

“It has come down from 18 per cent… At the moment, market is dominated by multinational companies. So, what has happened is that this 12 per cent would apply to even the multinationals, unless the whole market is swapped… This kills the indigenous pads,” the Minister said while addressing a press conference.

Earlier, Gandhi had written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asking him to provide 100 per cent tax exemption for eco-friendly and bio-degradable sanitary napkins under the GST.

The Minister said it was the first time that the ministry was working to provide sanitary napkins via other channels and encourage self-help groups (SHGs) to start making pads, like NGO Goonj, which had been making pads under a budget of Rs 20 lakh which was exempted from the GST.

“If we decide on a policy of loan system, then we will have lots of SHGs coming up, who will make pads and spread it in a completely localised manner rather than having some distant MNC come here,” she stated.

Gandhi informed that the ministry was in talks with the Niti Ayog, HRD Ministry and Health Ministry to take decisions on providing sanitary napkins in schools, extending help to NGOs and providing disposal machines for pads.

“Disposal of sanitary napkins is a worry, but we will soon reach a solution. We will have to take policies and decisions on it. I will be calling a meeting where we should be able to together take a decision,” she added.

–IANS
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Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

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3 years ago

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May 4, 2022

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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