Why levying GST on products for assisting persons with disabilities is a step in the wrong direction

“People with physical or mental disability are not only among the most deprived human beings in the world, they are also, frequently enough, the most neglected”

Prof Amartya Sen , Leading Economist and Nobel Laureate, keynote at the World Bank

 

Sadly, the statement remains largely true in the popular discourse for disability development in India. In a shocking move, the GST Council has decided to completely neglect the needs of citizens with disability and impose tax ranging from 5% to 18% across a range of assistive products including aids, appliances, prosthesis and technologies used by people with disabilities. All these items were earlier exempt from VAT and Customs Duty.

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