Lend a Helping Hand to Weavers : Plea to waive GST on handloom products

Tax taking toll on handloom sector and labour 

Lakdikapul: The Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Handloom JAC has demanded the Central government exempt the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on handloom products. The leaders of Handloom Association of both states jointly organised a meeting here on Tuesday.

National Handloom Board member and leader of Handloom Congress KVN Murthy said that they discussed issues faced by handloom sector and took key decisions to address them. The meeting resolved to demand that the Central government to exempt GST levied on handloom products as it has severe impact on handloom sector and its labour. 

They demanded exemption of GST on products made of silk, wool, cotton, jute, dying and printing units, embroidery, real zari, products manufactured on handloom weaving machines.

Speaking on the occasion, Rapolu Anand Bhaskar, former MP, urged all the political parties to pass a single sentence resolution to exempt GST on handlooms. 

He demanded formation of GST cess fund to promote handloom products and services. He said that he would meet national leaders very soon to discuss measures to be taken for protecting handloom art and profession.

Gundu Sudha Rani, the chairperson of Telangana state women cooperative finance corporation, said that the state government has initiated several schemes for development of handloom sector. 

She promised to fight against central government to exempt GST levied on handlooms. She said that state government, with the support of other states, would pressurise the Central government in this regard.

Kurnnol MP Butta Renuka alleged that the central government has destroyed handloom sector. She promised to fight against the union government in this regard.

Among those who participated in the meeting were Handloom Congress leaders K Venkateshwarulu, Ravirala Sandhya Rani, S Samma Rao, Narsimha Reddy, Sriramulu and others.