12% GST on sanitary pkins fine, says Maneka Gandhi

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Wednesday said that 12 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed on sanitary pkins is acceptable. "It has come down from 18 per cent... At the moment, market is domited by multitiol companies. So, what has happened is that this 12 per cent would apply to even the multitiols, unless the whole market is swapped... This kills the indigenous pads," the Minister said while addressing a press conference. Earlier, Gandhi had written to Fince Minister Arun Jaitley asking him to provide 100 per cent tax exemption for eco-friendly and bio-degradable sanitary pkins under the GST. The Minister said it was the first time that the ministry was working to provide sanitary pkins 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. (IANS)