Women in Karnataka demand withdrawl of 12% GST on sanitary napkins

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bengaluru, July 9, 2017: Members of Akhila Bharata Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane and Prajna Kanunu Salaha Samiti staged a protest against the 12% GST levied on Sanitary Napkin and demanded withdrawal of the same, in many venues on July 7, Friday.

They demanded that quality napkins should be distributed free of charge in the country. Criticising the Centre for including the napkins in the 12% slab of the GST, Akhila Bharata Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane state vice president K Neela said it was inhuman to impose such high tax on pads which are used by the women during menstruation and are vital for their wellbeing.

This shows that Centre is extremely insensitive towards women and their needs and also lacks common sense, she said.

“Women and girls from poor families will not be able to afford the napkins now.”
The government has included napkins to benefit the corporate world. “The silence maintained by women leaders in BJP over the issue is condemnable.”

The Karnataka government is freely distributing napkins in high schools. The same should be extended across the country by the centre.

She said while petrol, real estate, liquor and others have been kept out of the GST, the government has imposed GST on essential goods including food items and gold.

Nandadevi Mangodi, secretary, Akhila Bharata Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane, writer and president of Prajna Kanunu Salaha Samiti, college students and others took part in the protest.