To protect the interests of weavers and the country’s cultural heritage, Telangana ’s Textiles Minister KT Rama Rao has urged the Union Government to remove GST on handloom products.
He addressed a postcard to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to lift the 5 per cent GST on handloom fabrics and also started the online petition on change.org.
He appealed to people to join hands for the noble cause and said, “GST on handloom is a direct threat to millions of people who earn their livelihood from the handloom sector. Weavers across the country unanimously oppose taxes on handloom, since it has resulted in huge losses, forcing many to leave the traditional craft.”
KT Rama Rao said that handloom is one of the largest unorganised sectors and forms an integral part of rural and semi-rural livelihoods. However, it is reeling under the impact of Covid and slapping GST on it has sounded a death knell on the sector.
