The Modi government has taken a right decision excluding sanitary napkins from GST. The decision was taken in the GST council meet today which was confirmed by the Maharashtra finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Earlier the sanitary napkins were put 12 % GST which was not well received by many people. Before the GST could be implemented, the sanitary napkins attracted a tax rate of 13% which made them an expensive item unreachable for the poor and neo middle class. There were many requests from the public seeking a complete exemption of tax on sanitary napkins which are the most basic requirement for every women.
Hearing the plea, the central government has now taken a big decision exempting sanitary napkins from GST. This decision will make the napkins further cheap and easily available for the poor. Already, the government were selling eco friendly sanitary napkins in the jan aushadhi kendra in every district which had helped lakhs of poor women get sanitary napkins for Rs 2.50/pad.
PM Modi who has always stressed on toilet requirements, women safety and women empowerment as truly done what is most required for every women providing the basic facility. This will not only prevent girls above 7th standard quit schools due to hygiene problem, but also reduce them suffering from Urinary tract infection which millions of girls suffer due to unhygienic conditions during menstruation.
A study conducted by few NGO’s had shown that many girls use sand, saw dust, leaf, news papers, blotting papers which have the potential to transfer infection to Urinary tract causing many problems to girls. In order to avoid this, the Modi government had seriously taken measures to solve the problem and now they have been able to provide low cost sanitary napkins to rural people and also exempt GST for all napkins available in market. This is definitely a welcome step.
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