Kandhamal MP demands withdrawal of GST on Kendu leaf

BHUBANESWAR: Kandhamal BJD MP Achyuta Samanta on Wednesday demanded the Centre and the GST Council chairperson to withdraw goods and services tax (GST) from Kendu leaves, saying the imposition of such tax is affecting the trade and livelihood of eight lakh pluckers.
Samanta raised the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lower House, the first day of the winter session of the Parliament. He said the 18 percent GST is not only affecting the livelihood of the Kendu leaf pluckers but also the implementation of the social security and welfare schemes meant for them.
Kendu leaves, a minor forest produce, are the financial backbone of about eight lakh Kendu leaf pluckers, binders and seasonal workers of Odisha. Most of the Kendu leaf pluckers belong to the tribal community.
The tribal people collect the leaves as part of their rights defined under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. They have the right to procure and sell these products, he said in his submission before the House.
Recently, chief minister Naveen Patnaik had demanded the abolition of GST on Kendu leaves. The state government has also announced a special package for them.