SJM said that millions of small rag collectors are engaged in collecting plastic waste from various sources and then the same is segregated and recycled. File. | Photo Credit: G. Ramakrishna
Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), Tuesday (September 2, 2025), asked the Minister of Finance Nirmala Sithaman to re -consider goods and services (GST) on Beedi and plastic waste.
Proposals will help to protect and promote employment, improve workers’ welfare and achieve the goal of reducing environmental pollution under Swachh Bharat, SJM said.
The GST Council will have its meetings on 3.-4 to discuss the new generation reforms within the GST.
SJM said in a letter to the Minister of Finance that Beedi was the main source of employment, especially for women in more than nine countries of India.
SJM, which described this as “unfortunate”, said that in the case of a registered Beedi industry, GST 28% is stored, while the unregistered sector does not apply any GST.
“After the introduction of GST, Beedis GST attracted 28%, ie the highest GST rate, because Beedis was categorized as illegal goods. This caused a work in the Beedi sector, especially in the registered sector. Government, at high level and state level,” he said.
He added that in the past, a very small amount of central excise duty was collected for Beedis, while many state governments did not cause turnover tax and meant the interests of Beedi workers.
“As the GST Council meets to complete two rates for 5% and 18%, we humbly ask you to keep Beedis below 5% of the category to give relief to this cottage with a huge amount of employment that Beedi rollers, collectors and distribution and retail work,” said.
SJM, which was looking for similar relief for plastic waste, said that millions of small rag collectors deal with the collection of plastic waste from different sources and then the same segregated and recycled.
“These rag collectors belong to the highest category of our population in terms of reception, consumption and standard of living. Previously, plastic waste was taxed to 5% of GST, which later increased to 18%. This has the potential to reduce the incentive for the collection of rags that these poor staff.
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Published – 2 September 2025 20:11 is
