Sources claim that not a single Himachal apple grower has applied for 6% GST rebate on cartons, although close to 40 million cartons have been sold this season. Following a huge protest by apple growers against the increase in GST on cartons from 12% to 18% a few months back, the government had decided to bear the 6% increase by reimbursing the amount to the growers.
“We have not received even a single application for the reimbursement of GST from the apple growers so far,” said Director Horticulture Sudesh Mokhta. As per the government’s decision, all apple growers were to receive 6% GST subsidy on cartons and trays bought after April 1.
Despite the enhanced GST triggering much debate, surprisingly, growers have shown zero interest in claiming the GST rebate. One source said: “We knew a few growers would bother to claim the rebate due to the cumbersome procedure. That’s why we had asked the government to reimburse the amount to carton and tray suppliers on the basis of e-way GST bill instead of making lakhs of growers run from pillar to post to claim the amount. The government did not listen to us, making it clear that it was not serious about reimbursing the amount.”
Apart from the cumbersome procedure, the alleged reluctance of traders to give bills for the cartons and trays is another reason why growers are not claiming the rebate. “Growers buy cartons from their neighborhood dealers and a majority of them don’t give bills. So when there are no bills, how does one claim the rebate,” asked another source.
Source: tribuneindia.com