Rediscovering Gandhian Textile Economy in the GST Era

Abstract

Mahatma Gandhi jipaved the way for the common people to be Employed by starting the practice of ‘Khadi Handloom’ with ‘Charkha’ even at home which has grown from there to what we know as the Textile Industry today which creates employment for about 45 million people which generates about US$150 Billion (2017). Textile Sector is the second-largest employment generation sector in India for both Skilled as well as Unskilled Labour. Gandhi ji was a believer of Employment for all so that the economy can run and had always favored the Swadeshi Moment which we can know as MADE IN INDIA for the present scenario. Gandhiji believed that basic necessity should be taxed free and supporting it he did one of the famous Non Violent Civil Disobedient Movement known as the DANDI MARCH for the common SALT. On the similar grounds, in the Present Scenario; Clothes being the basic Necessity for any Individual, so is the Textile Sector for an Economy to Run Sustainable; it becomes all the more important to have a look on our Economy in the Goods and Service Tax (GST) era. As tax rates on some textile products is 5% and on some it is 12% that too with or without Input Tax Credit (ITC); it has now become all the more important for the Common People to understand the Basics of Taxes Levied and Earn his Livelihood and making India Stand on it’s own for Global Competition.