Bhubaneswar: Once again, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to withdraw 18 percent GST imposed on Kendu leaves.
Writing a letter to Sitharaman, Patnaik said Kendu leaf, a minor forest produce (MFP) is the financial backbone of about 8 lakhs Kendu leaf pluckers, binders & seasonal workers of Odisha and mostly belong to the tribal community and poorest of the poor of the society.
The tribal people collect the leaves as part of their right defined under 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.
“Imposition of GST (18 percent) on Kendu (tendu) leaves is adversely affecting the kendu leaves trade. This in turn affects the livelihoods of Kendu leaves, pluckers, binders & seasonal workers and implementation of social security and welfare schemes for them,” the Chief Minister said in his letter.
In the interest of livelihoods of the Kendu leaves dependent community, Patnaik urged the GST Council Chairperson to withdraw the GST imposed on Kendu leaves for the greater interest of Odisha.
Earlier, in November 2022, the Chief Minister had written a letter to the Union Finance Minister on the same demand. The State Finance Minister has been raising this demand before the GST Council several times.
In December last, a delegation of BJD MPs met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi and demanded withdrawal of 18 per cent GST imposed on Kendu leaf.
Imposition of GST (18%) on Kendu (Tendu) leaves is adversely affecting the Kendu leaves trade. This in turn affects the livelihoods of Kendu leaves Pluckers, binders and seasonal workers and Implementation of social security and welfare measures for them, sources said.