http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/fishers-fume-at-gst-rates/article19238286.ece Fishers fume at GST rates <http://www.thehindu.com/profile/author/T.-Nandakumar-576/>T. Nandakumar <http://www.thehindu.com/profile/author/T.-Nandakumar-576/> THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,JULY 08, 2017 00:00 IST UPDATED: JULY 08, 2017 04:44 IST
SHARE ARTICLE - 30 - - - <?subject=Fishers%20fume%20at%20GST%20rates&body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehindu.com%2Ftodays-paper%2Ftp-national%2Ftp-kerala%2Ffishers-fume-at-gst-rates%2Farticle19238286.ece> - <http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/fishers-fume-at-gst-rates/article19238286.ece#comments> - PRINT - AAA They dread further increase in operational costs The fisheries sector is bracing itself to face a fresh crisis triggered by the high tax rates on fishing gear under the GST (Goods Services Tax) regime. Fishing hooks, fishing rods, fishing tackles, and fishing twines are taxable at 12% under GST while that on fishing ropes has been fixed at 18%. All these fishing gear were exempt from tax under the VAT regime. The GST rate for fishing vessels has been fixed at 5%, the same rate levied under VAT. Outboard motors and ice boxes that had a VAT rate of 14.5% now attract a GST of 28% and 18% respectively. Anticipating a spurt in input costs, tens of thousands of fishermen who belong to the traditional and mechanised sectors are gearing up for an agitation against the crisis brewing in the sector. “This tax burden has come like a bolt from the blue,” says T. Peter, secretary, National Fishworkers Forum (NFF). “It is unaffordable, coming as it does at a time when dwindling returns from the industry are forcing desperate fishermen to seek other livelihood means.” ‘Caught unawares’ Leaders of most organisations representing fish workers admit that they had been caught unawares by the increase in tax rates. “The 12% GST on twine is bound to push up the price of fishing nets, one of the basic equipment used by fishers,” says Mr. Peter. Joseph Xavier Kalappurackal, general secretary, All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators’ Association (AKFBOA), fears that the new tax rates will unleash a spurt in the price of all the goods used in the fisheries sector. “It is a big blow with the potential to affect exports and cripple the whole sector.” He feels that the situation could have been averted if the government had consulted the stakeholders in the sector before deciding on the tax rates. Vulnerable section Already driven to the wall by rising fuel prices, dwindling fish stocks, and exploitation by middlemen, fisherfolk dread the prospect of a further increase in operational costs. “The government has abdicated its responsibility to protect one of the most vulnerable sections of society,” Mr. Joseph says. The NFF and AKFBOA are planning to submit a memorandum seeking reduction in GST rates. On Thu, Jul 6, 2017 at 10:02 AM, KP Sasi <kpsas...@gmail.com> wrote: > LDF has to take a stand against GST. On the one hand Thomas Isaac says > that it will increase the revenue of the State Government by 20 per cent. > And on the other hand, there is a pretension that GST is people friendly. > Now, where does this additional revenue of 20 per cent come from? It does > not fall from the sky. It comes from people. GST is just one more method of > Modi Governance to squeeze the people. LDF should not be a partner in this > dirty game. KM Mani goes one step further. He defends GST saying that it > will strengthen federalism is in this country. He has become a joker in > front of any intelligent political person. You are restricting the powers > of the State Governments violating the principles of Indian Constitution > and then when the State Governments become powerless and the Centre > acquires unrestricted powers, how can you call it a process of > strengthening federalism? At the level of economic policies, it is too > important for LDF to project its pro people economic policies rather than > shadowing the agenda of Modi, for convenience. > > On Sun, Jul 2, 2017 at 2:59 PM, KP Sasi <kpsas...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> GST has already increased prices in Kerala. I do not know how people like >> Thomas Isaac supported it. The notion projected is that `Kerala will >> benefit, since Kerala is a consumer economy.’ There are two questions which >> come up from this observation: 1. Do you mean that Kerala government will >> get more money out of taxes, or that the people of Kerala will benefit? The >> answer is obvious. The people of Kerala will have to pay more, but Kerala >> government will get more money. So Kerala will benefit. 2. Does the LDF >> Government in Kerala have any role in upholding the federal system of >> Governance in India accepted by the Indian Constitution? With GST coming to >> the scene, the entire federal system in India is broken, since the taxes >> are completely centralised. LDF is answerable to these important questions >> rather than becoming a shadow of Narendra Modi in such crucial affairs, to >> protect the interests of the Keralites. This decision of GST has far >> reaching implications. I am relieved to read some sense from Prabhat >> Patnaik, who said: `The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax would >> mean that that the states would have absolutely no power in deciding what >> tax rates to impose on what commodities, a right that was given to them >> under the Constitution of India. Once you the GST, the freedom of the >> states to pursue alternative strategies goes, and you have an enormous >> centralisation of power. If you want any change in the rates, you have to >> go to the GST council, in which the centre has a substantial voice. >> Consequently the states would become completely dependent on the centre. It >> is violation of the federal structure of the Constitution and is against >> the basic structure of the Constitution. All kinds of ridiculous arguments, >> for instance that it is going to add 2 per cent to our GDP growth rate and >> so on, are bandied about which are based on econometric frauds, based on >> assumptions which make no sense whatsoever. GST is a demand of the >> corporate elements in the country. The State governments are being bought >> off by promises that their resource position is not going to worsen in the >> short run.’ >> >> >> http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/07/01/on-gst-concerns- >> over-indias-federal-structure/ >> > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com. 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