Udupi: The district unit of National Students' Union of India (NSUI) has demanded the withdrawal of GST on student’s fees immediately for making education inclusive and an instrument of social change.
Christan Almeida, president, NSUI Udupi in a press release said, “Under the BJP, the very concept of tax is being turned on its head. The purpose of taxation is to fund development and welfare obligations of the government. Education is a central responsibility of the government in any conception of the state. However, Modi government is taxing students’ education to funnel money towards its warped development priorities. The Modi government has been privatising education either out rightly or under the guise of ‘self –financing’ courses.
“The imposition of the 18 percent GST on admission and examination forms for youth is a way to deny education to those coming from economically weaker and backward sections of the Indian society. The imposition of the financial burden, GST has become gloomy for students’ tax. GST has also been levied on sports facilities in places like DDA sports complex, which are availed by common people.
“India is a developing country with millions still trying to grapple with the problem of earning a livelihood. In such a scenario, the imposition of this tax is a virtual denial of education to students coming from such socially and economically weaker sections,” said the press release.
