Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Writes To Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, Urges To Withdraw 18% GST on Kendu Leaf

Bhubaneswar, June 27: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has again urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to withdraw the 18 per cent GST imposed on kendu leaves. The CM wrote that kendu leaf, a Minor Forest Produce (MFP) is the financial backbone of about 8 lakh kendu leaf pluckers, binders and seasonal workers of Odisha who mostly belong to the tribal community and are the poorest of the poor of society.

The tribal people collect the leaves as part of their right defined under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. They have the right to procure and sell these products, he said. Imposition of GST (18 per cent) on kendu (tendu) leaves is adversely affecting the kendu leaves trade, he said. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Announces Cash Prize of Rs 1 Crore For Members of Intercontinental Cup 2023 Champion Indian Football Team.

It also affects the livelihood of kendu leaf pluckers, binders and seasonal workers and implementation of social security and welfare schemes for them, the Chief Minister said in his letter. Patnaik urged the GST Council Chairperson to withdraw the GST imposed on kendu leaves for the greater interest of Odisha. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Inaugurates Seven-Storied Brundabati Nivas Building for ‘Habisialis’.

In November 2022, the Chief Minister had written a letter to the Union Finance Minister on the same demand. The state Finance Minister has also raised this demand before the GST Council several times.  In December last, a delegation of BJD MPs met Sitharaman in New Delhi and raised the demand.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2023 04:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).