Plea to withdraw 5% GST on hank yarn for handlooms

Andhra Pradesh Weavers’ Welfare Association has requested the Prime Minister to withdraw the 5% GST imposed on hank yarn used by handlooms not only to help over 43.3 lakh weavers depending on the activity for their livelihood sustain but also to honour Article 43 of the Constitution which urged the Government to promote cottage industries.

General secretary of the association P. Lakshmana Swamy explained that handlooms sector was contributing about 15% of cloth production in the country and of the total production of handloom 25% was being exported. Besides, 95% of the hand woven fabrics used across the world were from India, he noted.

Stating that handlooms sector was providing direct employment to 43.31 lakh persons on 23.77 lakh handlooms, Mr. Swamy said 10% of the weavers were from Scheduled Castes, 18% from other backward classes and another 27% from other castes and imposition of GST would make the sustenance of the sector passing through a difficult phase burdensome.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/plea-to-withdraw-5-gst-on-hank-yarn-for-handlooms/article19273071.ece