Naveen asks Sitharaman to withdraw GST on Kendu Leaves

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked Union Finance Minister and Chairperson
of GST Council, Nirmala Sitharaman, to withdraw the imposition of Goods and Services Tax (GST)
on Kendu (Tendu) leaves. In a letter to Sitharaman on Friday, Patnaik stated that Kendu leaf, a Minor Forest Produce (MFP) is the financial backbone of about 8 lakhs Kendu leaf pluckers,
binde rs and s e a sona l workers of Odisha who 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 F o r e s t D w e l l e r s (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. They have the right to procure and sell these products, stated the Chief Minister. “Imposition of GST (18%) on Kendu (Tendu) leaves is adversely affecting the Kendu leaves trade. This in
turn affects the livelihoods of the Kendu l e ave s pluckers, binders and seasonal workers and implementation of social s e c u rit y a n d we lf a r e schemes for them,” added Patnaik. “ I n t h e i n t e r e st o f livelihoods of the Kendu l e a v e s d e p e n d e n t community, it is urged upon to withdraw the imposition of GST on Kendu leaves for the greater interest of the State of Odisha,” stated the Chief Minister

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