GST meet on Saturday

SHILLONG, JULY 1: After Meghalaya’s persuasion, GST council has agreed to hold its tax reform meeting on every firstSaturday of the month.“Every time the GST council meeting fixed on Sunday’s , subsequently after GST was launched on Sunday, the GST council meeting was proposed on every first Sunday of the month, “ said Zenith Sangma, Taxation Minister.

Earlier soon after the launching, it was stated that GST council will meet on every first Sunday, however, Meghalaya ​soon express resentment as taxation Minister Zenith Sangma argued that being a Christian dominated state Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland Sunday will not be convenient, ultimately

“I have objected to it since Meghalaya is a Christian state and some other states like Mizoram and Nagaland are Christian dominated state and that should be respected and secular fabric should be maintained and I have raised objection on holding it on Sunday and ultimately it was agreed and every firstSaturday of the month, GST council meeting will be held,” Sangma said.

Meanwhile, in the last meeting of GST council, Meghalaya has raised issues pertinent to Northeast which include exemption of minor forest product from the purview of GST.

Talking after the final GST meeting at Parliament house, Sangma said, “I personally have raised some issue relevant and pertinent to north east and one such item is minor forest produce like broom stick and bamboo which I have demanded to make it zero rated and exempts it from purview of GST”.

“I have also raised that handloom products should be made tax free, as this provides opportunity for the women to generate income from it and if tax is lavied on it this will directly affect the women folk of Northeast,” informed Zenith Sangma.