Artisans protest, seek GST rollback on handicrafts

Srinagar, August 3

The demand to rollback the goods and service tax (GST) on handicrafts grew louder as artisans, traders, manufacturers, exporters and raw material suppliers associated with the sector staged a protest here today.

Even as the stakeholders associated with the handicrafts sector are already up in arms against the GST implementation, they threatened to intensify protests in case their demand was not met.

“We have been cheated by the government. The Finance Minister had assured us in June that the GST will not be implemented on the handicraft sector. However, when we came to know that we have to pay 12 per cent GST, we were shocked,” said Farooq Ahmad Shah, general secretary of the Carpet Manufacturers’ Association.

He said the artisans, who protested in the Pratap Park area of the summer capital, were particularly shocked as the handicraft sector of the Kashmir valley was already suffering.

“After an assurance by the Finance Minister, we had conveyed to the artisans that the GST will not impact them. However, they are in a state of shock now. They have been suffering already and now they will suffer more in case the GST is not rolled back,” Shah said.

The artisans are also worried over the paper work and other formalities involved with the GST. “Most of us are illiterates. We do not know how to do paper work related to the GST and we know nothing about the Internet. We do not earn much as the handicraft sector is already suffering...the government is making it hard for us to make both ends meet,” said a protesting artisan.

Meanwhile, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) president Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said all district representatives of the handicrafts sector took part in today’s protest and they would continue to take necessary measures to prevent its implementation and push the government to rollback the GST order.

Pertinently, Valley-based leading exporter Sheikh Ashiq has already filed an online petition demanding rollback of the GST on handicrafts. — TNS