Minister for Finance and Civil Supplies Etala Rajender said the State government would exert pressure on the Centre to reduce the existing 28% per cent GST on beedi industry, which supports the livelihood of lakhs of women in Telangana.
“Beedi causes health problems, but several lakhs of womenfolk, mostly widows, earn a living just by rolling beedis. If the GST is not reduced on the beedi industry, those women will possibly lose their means of employment,” he said. GST on beedi industry
Participating as chief guest at the state-level consumer activists training programme on ‘Food safety and standards’ organised by the Confederation of All Telangana Consumer Organisations (CATCO) here on Sunday, the Minister hoped that the GST council would take a positive decision soon.
Talking about reforms being introduced in Civil Supplies, he said the department had introduced e-PoS system to check misuse of rice distribution through fair price shops and saved the State exchequer several crores of rupees. He added that PD Act against 160 adulterators and hoarders in the state was invoked and the department is firmly dealing with petrol filling stations using remote technology to provide less fuel to consumers.
Assuring consumer activists and organisations of protection and support from the Government, he called upon them to launch a campaign on various products in GST categories to empower the public. AWARE founder chairman K.P.S. Madhavan agreed with Mr. Rajender, and talked about his crusade for uplift of tribals.
MLC Naradasu Laxman Rao, CATCO president Gowrishankar, general secretary Shankarlal, state advisor N. Srinivas and district consumer council president K. Ramachandra Reddy were also present. In the technical session, Bureau of Indian Standards deputy director Sakuram Guguloth, spoke about quality control while marketing officer from Hyderabad K. Harish explained about checking of quality of farm produce.
