Shubam Kalsotra
The differently abled have been affected by the high GST rates on essential aids and appliances. Almost all aids and appliances that disabled people use such as wheelchair or a Braille typewriter or a hearing aid will become at least 5% more expensive with articles essential for people with disabilities set to be taxed under new GST regime. Organisations representing such people are incensed besides being very angry and have alleged that the Government, which talks about inclusion of persons with disabilities, is in fact depriving them of basic necessities.
Since 2006, these items were not taxed. As per rates approved by the GST council on May 18,2017 18% tax has been imposed on Braille typewriters, 12% on Braille paper, 5% on carriages for the disabled, wheelchairs and assitive devices and 12% on hearing aids. It is already extremely difficult for the average disabled person in India with accessibility issues. Now with the GST, things of daily use/ necessity which are already beyond their reach will become even more expensive.It is not clear why the GST council is taxing disabled citizens of India.
RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (RPWD) ACT, 2016 was passed six months ago.
Chapter 8-Duties and Responsiblities of appropriate Governments of the RPWD Act clearly states-“The appropriate Government shall develop schemes programs to promote the personal mobility of persons with disabilities at affordable cost to provide for-
A. Incentives and concessions
B. Retrofitting of vehicles
C. Personal mobility assistance
By now, the Ministry of Finance and Department of Empowerment of Person with Disabilities should have at least set up a Committee to seriously look into the mandate imposed by Chapter-8 i.e. to develop incentive schemes and concessional programmes to ensure that disability aids and appliances are made available at an affordable cost. Instead Finance Ministry has decided to ruthlessly tax its disabled citizens.
As several people with disabilities come from the economically weaker sections and the government decision would be an obstacle in their education and employment. Around five percent of the population has some sort of disability. Apart from an increase in prices, activists worry that it will force people to use poor quality devices. Wheelchairs and other devices produced in the country are of poor quality. So most of the material used by disabled are imported. For wheelchairs made in India, if one part breaks,we have to replace it entirely and that is expensive. This is unfair because most people with disabilities are unemployed.
India must invest in its disabled population i.e almost 70 million. If the disabled are able to step out of their homes, go to schools and colleges, get jobs on merit, they will obviously contribute to the nation’s growth and its economic progress. So Good quality and affordable aids and appliances must be provided at low prices.
(The author is a Civil Service aspirant)
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