The Barak Valley Textiles and Garment Traders’ Association (BVTGTA) has decided to continue its agitation against the hike in entry tax on textiles from one per cent to four per cent.
SILCHAR, Dec 28: The Barak Valley Textiles and Garment Traders’ Association (BVTGTA) has decided to continue its agitation against the hike in entry tax on textiles from one per cent to four per cent by the State Government, said BVTGTA general secretary Manoj Paul. The decision was taken following the 12-hour dawn to dusk bandh called by the BVTGTA on December 22 last passed off successfully.
The bandh received full support from all business, commercial establishments and shops as shutters remained closed during the bandh. Paul described the hike in tax as most “irrational and unjustified” since it would only paralyse the industry in tatters in Assam.
Common people feeling the pinches of ever rising cost of living would be badly affected as “clothes are an essential item in our life,” said Paul. Weaker sections of society, in particular, would face great hardships. The decision to enhance tax which was introduced in 2001 is unprecedented as the “tax is realized in Assam only and blamed the State Government for thrusting the burden on textile traders,” he added.
Considering the plight of people in general due to this abnormal hike in tax, the Association, he revealed, sought relief in Gauhati High Court which is pending before it. Instead of waiting for the verdict of the High Court, the State Government rather went ahead and pushed up the tax from one per cent to four per cent. Traders would have to pay arrears of taxes from November 11, 2006 to April 30, 2008 along with interest. In addition to that, VAT has been escalated by one per cent more, he further disclosed. If the State Government does not reconsider hiking of taxes, the traders will be left with no option then to realize it from customers by increasing the prices of garments, Paul said.
Paul said textile business in Assam under these trying situation might decide to shift to other States where there is no tax. Wholesalers in these States, free from the burden of four per cent tax, naturally derive maximum benefits to promote the textile industry. He added to say garment business is an unorganized sector involving small and petty shop keepers who are self employed spread across urban and rural areas. It is like a cottage industry and as a source of sustenance for women engaged in various processes of cloth making. The hike in excise tax and VAT has come as a bolt from the blue to all in the business.
Many would be rendered jobless and aggravate the unemployment problem. “We submitted a memorandum to the Assam Chief Minister through the Cachar deputy commissioner urging him to withdraw the tax,” he stated. If the State Government persisted with its decision, the Association would chalk out further course of agitational programme. The bandh was their symbolic protest, Paul stated. THE SENTINEL
SILCHAR, Dec 28: The Barak Valley Textiles and Garment Traders’ Association (BVTGTA) has decided to continue its agitation against the hike in entry tax on textiles from one per cent to four per cent by the State Government, said BVTGTA general secretary Manoj Paul. The decision was taken following the 12-hour dawn to dusk bandh called by the BVTGTA on December 22 last passed off successfully.
The bandh received full support from all business, commercial establishments and shops as shutters remained closed during the bandh. Paul described the hike in tax as most “irrational and unjustified” since it would only paralyse the industry in tatters in Assam.
Common people feeling the pinches of ever rising cost of living would be badly affected as “clothes are an essential item in our life,” said Paul. Weaker sections of society, in particular, would face great hardships. The decision to enhance tax which was introduced in 2001 is unprecedented as the “tax is realized in Assam only and blamed the State Government for thrusting the burden on textile traders,” he added.
Considering the plight of people in general due to this abnormal hike in tax, the Association, he revealed, sought relief in Gauhati High Court which is pending before it. Instead of waiting for the verdict of the High Court, the State Government rather went ahead and pushed up the tax from one per cent to four per cent. Traders would have to pay arrears of taxes from November 11, 2006 to April 30, 2008 along with interest. In addition to that, VAT has been escalated by one per cent more, he further disclosed. If the State Government does not reconsider hiking of taxes, the traders will be left with no option then to realize it from customers by increasing the prices of garments, Paul said.
Paul said textile business in Assam under these trying situation might decide to shift to other States where there is no tax. Wholesalers in these States, free from the burden of four per cent tax, naturally derive maximum benefits to promote the textile industry. He added to say garment business is an unorganized sector involving small and petty shop keepers who are self employed spread across urban and rural areas. It is like a cottage industry and as a source of sustenance for women engaged in various processes of cloth making. The hike in excise tax and VAT has come as a bolt from the blue to all in the business.
Many would be rendered jobless and aggravate the unemployment problem. “We submitted a memorandum to the Assam Chief Minister through the Cachar deputy commissioner urging him to withdraw the tax,” he stated. If the State Government persisted with its decision, the Association would chalk out further course of agitational programme. The bandh was their symbolic protest, Paul stated. THE SENTINEL
SHG sensitization programme at Ichapar
SILCHAR, Dec 28: A self-help group (SHG) sensitization programme was organized by Cachar district branch DDM of NABARD, Debabrata Das, in association with the Binakandi branch of the UBI and Sonatan Unnayan Sanstha, an NGO, at Ichapar under Binakandi Block on the outskirts of Silchar town today. The programme was presided over by Kaptampur Anchalik Panchayat Member Bipraswar Das and attended, among others, by Binakandi branch manager of UBI Uttam Roy and members of the SHG and the NGO. THE SENTINEL
SILCHAR, Dec 28: A self-help group (SHG) sensitization programme was organized by Cachar district branch DDM of NABARD, Debabrata Das, in association with the Binakandi branch of the UBI and Sonatan Unnayan Sanstha, an NGO, at Ichapar under Binakandi Block on the outskirts of Silchar town today. The programme was presided over by Kaptampur Anchalik Panchayat Member Bipraswar Das and attended, among others, by Binakandi branch manager of UBI Uttam Roy and members of the SHG and the NGO. THE SENTINEL
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