SFI sends sanitary pads to Jaitley to protest GST

Scores of members of Left-backed Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) on Tuesday sent sanitary napkins to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, to demand an immediate withdrawal of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on them. The napkins had "bleed without fear"written on them.

The move was part of an all-India campaign titled 'Bleed Without Fear, Bleed without Tax'.

Under the newly introduced GST regime, sanitary pads have been put in the luxury item category and will attract a 12 per cent tax, which is just slightly lower than the 13.7 per cent tax in the previous indirect tax regime. "Sanitary pads are considered luxury items and taxed accordingly. The reality is that these are a necessity for a woman. Inflated prices will discourage poor women and girls from using pads," SFI president Vikas Bhadauria said.

The campaign was followed by a video on the issue, which went viral on social media on Monday, wherein a Delhi University student urged women across the country to join the fight against "unjust"taxation on sanitary pads."If condoms and contraceptives are tax-free, why not sanitary pads?"she had asked.

The campaigners cited a recent study published in the International Research Journal of Social Science, which stated that only 12 per cent of menstruating women use sanitary napkins, and over 88 per cent depend on alternative unhygienic ways such as unsanitised cloths, ashes, and husk sand. This leads to a decline in productivity by 31 per cent.

BLEEDING A LUXURY?

• Under GST, sanitary pads have been put in the luxury item category and will attract a 12 per cent tax.
   
• Only 12 per cent of menstruating women use sanitary napkins, and over 88 per cent depend on unsanitised cloths, ashes, and husk sand