Ahead of the upcoming GST council meeting, Minister Mauvin Godinho, who is the State’s representative on the council, said he will fight for smaller states like Goa to receive quicker relief as compared to the bigger States.
Godinho said the smaller States need such funds faster and if this is done, then the State can be protected from the effects of say the pandemic or a slowdown in the economy.
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He admitted that as compared to the bigger States, the requirement of smaller States may be smaller but that the quantum of finance in these smaller States is still high.
He added that Himachal Pradesh or the North Eastern States could be put in the bracket of smaller States and revealed that there has already been a consensus amongst such States.
Godinho also said that given the pandemic, it is unlikely that the States will be inclined to allow alcohol products and petrol to be included in GST as States would lose their revenue.
Godinho added that he would be making a suggestion to the council to merge two slabs, either the 28 per cent and 18 per cent or 18 per cent and 5 per cent.
Godinho also said that the earlier problems with devolution of funds from the Centre have now been addressed but he expects that the Centre will have to continue releasing GST compensation shortfall cess in the future.
