Don’t Tax my periods - It is not a luxury but a necessity for all woman in India – GST on sanitary Pads in India

1.0 Introduction

Can periods be considered under a luxury? Do we choose to menstruate? It's not like we have an option of not menstruating. We can’t seem to understand if our government is inconsiderate or blind towards women.

We live in a land where women are not just respected but worshipped yet these goddesses have to fight for their basic necessities. India is a land of hypocrites. We have enormous worshipers of Kali, Durga, Laxmi, Saraswati and many more yet we are unable to understand the basic needs of a lady.

2.0 Where is women empowerment?

With government putting, 12% tax on sanitary napkin women all around the nation is losing their minds. Total no of females in our country are 586 millions and amongst them, 80% of the women cannot afford to purchase a sanitary napkin.

Our government is still deficient of knowledge and consideration towards menstruation that they have put kumkum, bindi, sindoor and even kajal in non-taxable list. It is clear that our government thinks these items are more important than sanitary pads.

3.0 Why government should promote “Sanitary for all” and not discourage it by putting a 12% tax.

An average woman spends Rs 100 a month on sanitary napkins and it is impossible for many to spend that amount. Imagine how difficult it is for an unemployed women living in a deprived family.

Hence, it is the time we all start realizing not using sanitary pads can lead to several health risks and hazards. It is not hygienic to use a piece of cloth during this time yet maximum number of women uses it. It is only because they cannot afford to buy a sanitary pad. Are we, as a country so incapable that we cannot provide our mothers, sisters, and daughters their basic necessity?

We all know the answer to that question. It is like we are being punished for being women!

4.0 Is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is only for cleanliness on roads? Should personal hygiene be promoted? 

The whole BJP government promotes the Swachh bharat Abhiyan but do they truly walk on what they said? This is because the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan cannot be only restricted to the area’s surrounding us, it should also cover the personal hygiene. Hence, if it is the case, why government has put on a tax of 12% on Sanitary Napkins?

Depriving an individual of its basic necessity is not just cruel but inhumane. As being a girl in India is not already punishment enough. We are seen as liabilities and burden by our families. Also, if a girl is not using the sanitary pads, then it can leads to several diseases and infections.

5.0 What government has to say about it?

The Finance Ministry has said pre – goods and services tax sanitary napkins attracted a total tax of 13.68%, therefore were put in the 12% slab. It said reducing GST on sanitary napkins to nil would lead to complete denial of input tax credit to domestic manufacturers and put them at a disadvantage vis a vis imports as they would also face zero IGST. 

The government is taking the shield of the domestic manufactures and their point is actually not tenable. Further, not everything in country should be seen from the eyes of profit and loss. Also, in this country of intellectuals, can’t be able to find any other solution to save domestic manufactures and leving tax of 12% was the only solution?

We don’t think so, because there are various cases in this country where domestic manufacturers are at loss and government is doing nothing about it. Further, government has put condom, bindi, bangles etc in zero percent, is government is not concerned about manufacturers on these items?

In the ends, one can see the double standards of the government of India.

6.0 Conclusion and request from the government

It's time we start seeing menstruation as a natural process which is not in the hands of anyone. Let's educate our husbands, sons, and brothers of this cycle. So that what we are facing now will not be faced again in future. Let everyone know that sanitary pads are not a luxury but a necessity of every woman.

Further, it is the request to the government from the woman in India, to please find a solution where sanitary pads can be made available at low cost to all women across the country.

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