Bhopal: Though there is no autumnal nip in air, the artisans who displayed their works at Deepotsav Mela – 2017 in Gauhar Mahal felt the chill of Goods and Services Tax (GST), which centre introduced during monsoon this year. It was evident at 12-day exhibition-cum-sale organised by MP Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation, which concluded on Monday.
The artisans from different places in state displayed handicraft items at the fair, which is organised every year before Diwali. The artisans said the customers’ response at the fair was sluggish because of GST. The fair had begun on October 6.
A native of Maheshwar, Mohammed Rafiq Ansari who exhibited silk and cotton saris, said, “The response of customer was very poor. The GST on handloom products is 5% but people were not ready to pay that much. Today was concluding day of the fair, but I could not sell single item till evening. Our sale was worth Rs 1.5 lakh last year but this year it was Rs 60,000.”
Ghazala Aaftab who exhibited candles for sale said artisans could sell 20 % of their products this year. “Last year, it was 100 %. The actual price of one candle is Rs 15, but after adding the tax to it, the price of the same item has gone up to Rs 27. The number of customer has decreased,” she remarked.
Nitin Kumar Swami from Tikamgarh who exhibited brass metal idols said, “GST on bell metal is 12 %. Besides GST, we pay 15 % as rental charge to fair organiser. It means we are paying 27 % tax. We also have to pay tax while buying raw brass. If we add our transportation cost and board and lodging charges, it will go up further. So, only an artisan who is paying 5 % GST will able to participate in any exhibition now.” His products fetched Rs 5000 this year. “GST ne sabhi ka haal behal hai… (The GST has affected everybody),” he remarked.
Dulal Shah who came with leather goods said he sold 20% of his products. “Last year, our sale was worth Rs 1 lakh but our sale did not go beyond 20,000 this year. The tax on leather items is 28%. Besides, we have to pay tax on buying raw leather,” Shah said.
Mukesh Vishwakarma who hails from Budhni had displayed items made of teak wood. “The tax on teak wood items including pencil is 12%. The actual price of a pencil is Rs 30 but after adding tax its price increased upto Rs 40. Cheez wahi hai lekin daam badh gaya hai… (The thing is same but the price has increased). Our sale was less than 30 % this year. Our sale was worth Rs 20,000,” he remarked.
We have been organising the fair since 2011 but sales are down by 20%. I think, GST can be one of the reasons behind this. The total sale recorded at fair was Rs 35 lakh last year. It has declined to Rs 25 lakh this year.
Brijendra Raghuvanshi, fair in-charge
