NEW DELHI: A rights group has written to Amitabh Bachchan , seeking his intervention on the move to bring articles essential for people with disabilities under the GST regime. Bachchan is the brand ambassador for the promotion of the goods and services tax , prompting the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People to petition him.

Under GST — which will be implemented from July 1 across India — taxes ranging from 5-18% on goods used by people with disabilities have been approved.

When contacted by TOI, Javed Abidi, honorary director, NCPEDP, said: “With 70-100 million disabled people in India, this decision is not only shocking — as these items are of absolute necessity for people with disabilities rather than a choice — but also violative of provisions of the newly passed Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.”

These items have traditionally been exempt from VAT. Claiming that the basis on which these new tax rates were fixed was beyond comprehension, Abidi said, statistically, people with disabilities were more likely to experience poverty, which, in turn, increased the incidence of disability.

The letter stated: “Sir, this link between poverty and disability cannot be ignored! It is, therefore, important for the GST council to understand that these items are already beyond the reach of a common person with disability who already has an additional cost to bear in order to live his life independently and with dignity! And, if any additional taxes are levied, it will negatively impact the disabled people in India, including the ageing population with increasing support and medical needs (sic).”

Abidi added that the additional expense might also deter educational institutions, potential employers and organizations working with the disabled, thus “taking people with disabilities back by two decades”.

He extended his request to FM Arun Jaitley and finance ministers of other states: “We were quite hopeful that the GST council would heed to petitions and roll back, or significantly reduce, the proposed GST during their meeting on Sunday. However, this didn't happen!”

Abidi wrote: “The council deliberated on the tax rate for restaurants in five-star hotels but did not reduce (leave alone abolish) the tax on disability aids and appliances. What is even more absurd is that the council decided to levy a 18% tax on restaurants in five-star hotels — the same as the tax fixed for Braille typewriters.”

