The Goods and Services Tax Council has decided to tax sanitary pads and tampons at 12 per cent to the dismay of many women across India. Turning a deaf ear to the collective outcry, which urged the government to exempt these items from the tax slab, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley-led council placed sanitary pads and tampons under the taxable slab. A quick skim through the other tax brackets reveals that items such as bindi, sindoor, bangles and even betel leaves have been put in the zero tax slab. Upset at the decision, like many women in India, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ wife Amruta Fadnavis has promised to voice her concern with her husband. She has been vocal about feminine hygiene and safety issues in the past as well and has strongly came out in support of tax-free sanitary pads and termed it as an essential item and not a luxury item, “I feel sanitary napkins have been made accessible in villages and rural areas only recently and non-branded sanitary napkins should be kept out of the tax regime completely for it to be accessible to women,” says Amruta.
Ask her if she has voiced her concern with her husband and she shares, “I have put forth my views and emphasised on the fact that sanitary napkins made by bachat ghars (self help groups) shouldn’t be taxed. He (CM) has assured that he will consider it and look into the matter,” she adds.
There is still a lot of stigma associated with menstruation in India. By taking this step and spreading awareness, we will be able to assert the fact that it a natural process in a woman’s life feels Amruta, “The fact that more than 50 per cent of women population in India uses sanitary napkins should give the government all the more reason to exempt it. There is still a lot of stigma associated with menstruation which needs to be eradicated,” she adds.
The final meeting of the council is yet to be take place and Amruta hopes for a positive result, “The final tax limits are yet to be decided and the list is not yet out, we are an open-minded government which has always thought about the welfare of women and will do so even now,” she signs off.
The growing demand to exempt sanitary napkins from GST has gained potential on social media as well with individuals demanding hashtag #TaxFreePad.
