Odisha demands exemption of handloom, handicraft from GST

Odisha government today demanded exemption of handloom and handicraft products from the purview of GST.
The demand was made by Odisha Finance Minister S B Behera at the GST Council meeting in New Delhi during the day, an official release here said.
"GST should not be applicable on the products prepared by weavers and artisans as they make their living out of these," Behera said.
In Odisha there are 3.5 lakh weavers and artisans whose livelihood depends on selling their products. Therefore, GST should be exempted, Behera said.
At present, handloom products like Sambalpuri, Bomkei, Maniabandha and tussar sarees manufactured by weavers are exempted from tax. Similarly, handicraft goods like applique, stone works, wood works, teracotta products, patta painting and tribal crafts are also exempted from tax.

Behera ALSO urged that the GST on kendu leaves be kept at five per cent to support the livelihood of millions of kendu leaf pluckers, specially tribals, the release added.