Goods and Services Tax (GST) which was rolled out on July 1 with the Central Ministers lauding it as a revolutionary step to benefit the consumers has resulted in a steep rise in the prices of some of the items the common people use like umbrella and toy. These two being categorised as luxury items by the Centre with 12 percent GST being imposed on them, the people are shelling out a lot more, post GST rollout, to buy them.
Many wonder how the Centre could have categorised these two items as luxury ones. While umbrella is a must for the people irrespective of the classes to shield themselves against the rains and the scorching sun the toys are no less so.
“In case of toys, the GST Council has however made some discriminations. While the chemically coloured toys sold on the footpath have been excluded from GST the hygienic toys would cost the consumers 12 percent GST. One wonders why the Centre has made the hygienic toys out of the bounds of the children,” says an observer.
A trader who sells toys says that being forced by the hike in their prices, the people are opting for the Chinese toys which are much cheaper despite the fact that China-made toys can pose health hazards for the children, especially the toddlers.
“It is common knowledge that the children suck or lick their toys, something that is quite likely to inflict them with diseases,” he adds.
With the rainy season on, one can hardly overstate the importance of umbrellas. Besides, it is an item widely used by the people during the summer too to shield them from the scorching sun. “Things are such that the people are perforce going for repairing their old ones with the stock of new ones lying in the godowns,” says an umbrella seller at Paltan Bazar.
The traders who have brought the branded umbrellas by paying GST are at the receiving end of things with the customers arguing with them
over the sudden hike in
their prices.