PANJIM: Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) demanded a complete rollback of GST on aids and appliances for persons with disability.
Addressing the media, DRAG President Avelino de Sa said, “Aids and appliances for persons with disability is a necessity and not a luxury item as it enables us to lead a normal life. Imposition of GST at 12 to 18 percent on aids and appliances for persons with disability will increase the cost of these substantially as it was presently exempted from all taxes.”
“It will make them out of reach of the common man many of whom are below the poverty line. Hence we demand a complete roll back of GST on aids and appliances for persons with disability. We have written to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar seeking his intervention in the matter,” de Sa said.
He added that the central government had proposed to impose GST at 12 percent on Braille paper, hearing aids and Braille watches and at 18 percent on Braille typewriters and cars for physically disabled.
