Scores of weavers gathered in Coimbatore recently to protest against the existing goods and services tax (GST) in the Indian handloom sector. Demanding exemption of GST for handloom weaving, the weavers said the 5 per cent GST is resulting in losses for weavers, forcing them to turn away from their traditional craft and negatively affecting the sector.
Young men opting for the weaving profession are reportedly facing difficulties getting married due to a lack of steady income, according to a report. Initially GST rate for the handloom industry was 12 per cent, but later the government slashed it to 5 per cent.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi arguing that weavers, poor tribals and sculptors depend on these handcrafted products and high GST would affect their livelihoods.
