Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik re-urged the Centre to withdraw the 18% GST on Kendu leaves for the larger interest of poor and tribal people associated with Kendu leaves trade in the State.
Imposition of GST (18%) on Kendu leaves is adversely affecting the Kendu leaves trade. This in turn affects the livelihoods of Kendu leaves pluckers, binders and seasonal workers and implementation of social security and welfare schemes for them, Patnaik wrote to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is Chairperson of the GST Council.
Patnaik said the Kendu (Tendu) leaf, which is a Minor Forest Produce, is the financial backbone of eight lakh Kendu (Tendu) leaf pluckers, binders and seasonal workers of Odisha. The pluckers and workers are mostly tribal and Women belonging to the poorest of the poor of the Society.
The tribal people collect the leaves as part of their rights defined under . In the interest of a large section of people dependent upon Kendu leaves for their livelihood, the CM requested Sitharaman once again to withdraw the imposition of GST on the trade.