Most of the inputs and raw materials for manufacture of these assistive
devices/equipments attract 18% GST in old GST structure. In the new
structure the rates might have been cut. but, Most of the inputs and raw
materials for manufacture of these assistive devices/equipments still
attract 5% GST.
Apple IPhone is a Phone. the voiceover software make it accessible for
the blind. laptop is a computer but, NVDA and jaws makes it accessible
for the blind.
better to demand subsidy in accesseble technology, instead of 0 GST.
On 9/6/2025 8:12 PM, UDIT Pandey wrote:
Well said. And as for apple products, well it's very clear that
Apple's accessibility is very intuitive. So, people have to stretch
their budget to get those devices. No, I am not at all starting an
Apple vs. Android debate. Plus, one can live without these Apple
products, but living without assistive technologies is not possible.
And for the organizations distributing those tools, yes, they do. But
then, at the end, if anything fails, or any other problem, it's the
beneficiaries who suffer.
Just as I said before in my previous email, the ratio between cans and
cannots in our country is not that good yet. We have more cannots than
compared to cans. So, I think we have to think about them as well.
Now, I want to take a very basic, real-life example to illustrate why
there should be 0% GST for assistive devices. And, yes, I'll be neutral.
A Real-Life Example: Wheelchair vs. Television
Imagine a person with a severe physical disability who needs a
specialized wheelchair to be mobile. This isn't just a basic manual
chair, but an advanced, motorized one with custom supports. Let's say
it costs ₹2,00,000. When the government adds a 5% GST, the price
increases by ₹10,000, bringing the total to ₹2,10,000.
Now, let's compare this to an able-bodied person buying a luxury item,
like a high-end television for their home, also costing ₹2,00,000.
They are also paying GST. But the key difference is that the
television is a want, and the wheelchair is an absolute need.
Some might say, "Why can't the person with a disability just get a
cheaper model, like the person can get a cheaper TV?" This argument
falls apart very quickly. A person buying a TV has a choice; they can
buy a cheaper model or no TV at all without any real impact on their
life. The person with the disability doesn't have that luxury. The
"cheaper" wheelchair might not have the correct posture support to
prevent health issues, or the right motor to safely navigate their
daily environment. Downgrading is not an option; it's a sacrifice of a
basic human function.
Then, they might say, "If a person is paying ₹2,00,000, can't they
also pay the extra ₹10,000?" Again, this misses the point entirely.
The GST on the wheelchair is not a one-time expense. People with
disabilities face a host of other unavoidable costs, like ongoing
medical care, special transport, and other tools. The 5% GST on the
wheelchair is just one part of a continuous and heavy financial
burden. The real question is not whether they can pay, but whether the
government should be taxing a fundamental necessity.
This isn't about giving a handout. It's about removing a financial
barrier that stands in the way of a person's ability to be
independent, go to work, and contribute to our country.
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