Masks, sanitisers, oximeters and thermometers have become part of daily expenditure

“Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Manish Sisodia attended a meeting of the GST council wherein he recommended changes for making COVID-19 medical equipment tax-free.”

New Delhi, June 12, 2021:

Dy. CM Manish Sisodia said, “Today, at the GST Council meeting I presented some important recommendations in front of the council. It is necessary for us to make COVID-19 medical equipment like vaccine, masks, sanitisers, thermometer, oximeter and other equipment. Expenses related to masks, sanitisers, thermometers have now been added into the monthly budget of people. People are waiting to see whether the bill for a sanitiser or mask will remain Rs.500 or will it go up to Rs.550 with tax.

Speaking on the possibility of a 3rd wave, Sisodia said, “We can compare our COVID waves to that of the United Kingdom. As COVID cases peak in the UK, we can say that India will also see another peak. Keeping in mind the possible 3rd wave, Central and State Governments across the nation have already starting amping up medical facilities. Private sectors have also been asked to invest in public healthcare. If a State Government asks a private company to invest 10 lakh in a hospital to increase its ICU hospital, does this mean that the hospital will get the full amount or does it mean that the hospital will receive a deducted amount after tax?”

Sisodia said, “These suggestions have been put across keeping in mind the rising expenditure related to COVID-19 material for our junta, who has to now create a margin from their daily expenditure to spend on these medical apparatus. People of the nation want their Governments to not make money out of this expenditure to actually aid them and support them by making these equipment tax-free. Many BJP leaders are against the suggestion of making COVID-19 medical equipment tax-free. BJP-led Central Government showed their discontent against State Governments who recommended this and want masks, sanitisers, thermometers etc to be tax-free. GST council did not listen to any of us and has not accepted these suggestions. I appeal to the Central Government to have an open heart, to think about the suffering of the people and make this equipment tax-free. It is the need of the hour and will help many people reduce their cost in monthly budgets.”

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