Dear Muralidharan, We are with you to fight against atrocious decision affecting millions of differently abled in India.
Regards Paul -----Original Message----- From: AccessIndia [mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of National Platform For The Rights of the Disabled Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 6:55 PM To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: [AI] Fwd: Protest GST on Aids & Appliances *National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled* *36, Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane, New Delhi 110001* *Email: nprd...@gmail.com <nprd...@gmail.com>; Tel. 9868768543* *May 30, 2017* *Press Statement* The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) registers its strong protest against the decision of the GST Council to impose taxes on a range of aids and appliances used by persons with disabilities. The recently held meeting of the GST council has proposed to levy GST ranging from 5 to 18 per cent on a number of items that the disabled use. While crutches, wheel chairs, walking frames, tricycles, braillers, artificial limbs, assistive devices, rehabilitation aids and carriages for disabled persons will attract a GST of 5 per cent; 12 per cent GST would be levied on Braille Paper, Braille watches and hearing aids; whereas those purchasing Braille Typewriters and cars for physically disabled persons would now have to pay a GST of 18 per cent. All these appliances and devices which are essential for a large number of persons with disabilities are currently exempt from all duties and taxes. The levying of such taxes would lead to a manifold increase in the costs of these items, which even now are out of reach of the common disabled in the country. As compared to a printed book, a Braille version costs around five times more. This will impose additional burdens and have adverse consequences for persons with disabilities. Apart from having a distressing effect on education, impeding mobility, deprivation of employment opportunities etc., it would also snatch away the rights of disabled persons to lead a dignified life. Besides, these proposals militate against the provisions of the recently enacted Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 as also the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities to which India is a signatory, which recognizes the principle of 'reasonable accommodation', provision of access, equality etc. While the Modi government has sought to bestow divinity on the disabled by coining terms like *divyang,* in practice it is depriving a section of Indian citizens of even the limited entitlements and opportunities that they avail today. Strangely, despite the passage of the RPD Act, which uses the term “persons with disabilities” to denote disabled persons, the notification uses derogatory terms like “handicapped”. The NPRD urges the Finance Minister to withdraw the proposed GST on aids, appliances and assistive devices used by persons with disabilities, before they are finalised. The NPRD calls upon its state affiliates and all other disability rights organisations to lodge protests and take up the issue with their respective state governments. *(Muralidharan)* *Secretary* The list has now migrated to www.accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in You should now post to the id: a...@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. DISCLAIMER: This email may contain privileged information and is intended solely for the addressee, and any disclosure of this information is strictly prohibited, and may be unlawful. If you have received this mail by mistake, please inform the sender immediately and delete this mail. Any information expressed in this mail does not necessarily reflect the views of CANARA BANK. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Bank. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The sender declares that no liability can be cast upon the sender for any error or omissions in the contents of the message that arise, as a result of e-mail transmission and further declares that the sender cannot be made liable for any loss suffered by any person, on account of having acted upon any messages which is vitiated by error, omissions or interception. The list has now migrated to www.accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in You should now post to the id: a...@accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
