Highlighting the higher tax rate on fisheries equipment and products compared to other traditional sectors, the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has moved the GST Council with a plea for a downward revision of tax.
In a memorandum to the chairman, GST Council, the NFF pointed out that the introduction of GST on many of the tax-exempted items under the VAT regime and the increase in the tax rate on taxable items would burden the fisherfolk and jeopardize their livelihood. This, it said, was unjustifiable in the light of the significant concessions to improve the livelihood of communities working in other primary and traditional sectors like agriculture, dairying, cashew and coir.
NFF chairperson Narendra Patil and general secretary T. Peter said products such as fish meat, fish fillets, sea craw fish, dried fish and fish feed and fishing gear such were non-taxable under the VAT regime were now taxed at 5 to 18%while the tax on outboard motors, spare-parts and navigational equipment such as compasses, radio navigational aid apparatus and other instruments had been increased from 14.5% to 28%.
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