Government exempts tax on sanitary napkins; Akshay Kumar, Manushi Chhillar welcome the move

The government's monumental decision to exempt GST on sanitary pads has been praised by one and all. There have been many individuals and organisations, who have been appealing to the government to exempt tax on sanitary napkins can now finally heave a sigh of relief. 

Many celebrities have also spoken for the cause. One of them being Akshay Kumar- whose film Padman was about the awareness of menstrual hygiene. The actor has thanked the GST Council for making sanitary napkins Goods and Services Tax (GST) free.

Expressing his happiness, Akshay tweeted on Saturday: "One of those days when a news brings tears of joy as a cause close to your heart gets fulfilled. Thank you, #GSTCouncil, for understanding the need for menstrual hygiene & exempting sanitary pads from tax. I`m sure crores of women in our country are silently sending gratitude your way."

One of those days when a news brings tears of joy as a cause close to ur heart gets fulfilled.Thank you, #GSTCouncil,for understanding the need for menstrual hygiene & exempting sanitary pads from tax. I'm sure crores of women in our country are silently sending gratitude ur way — Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) July 21, 2018

The GST on sanitary pads has been cut from 12 per cent to zero.

Akshay's wife, Twinkle Khanna, also welcomed the news. Twinkle has been working on the cause for a long time-it was she who first wrote the story of Arunachalam Muruganantham and his tireless efforts to create more awareness around menstrual hygene. Muruganatham's life was then adapted for 'Padman'the film. 

"When I raised questions about why there was GST on sanitary pads I had a large number of people barking at me-Glad to see positive results finally #PadManTalks(sic)"Twinkle tweeted. 
 

When I raised questions about why there was GST on sanitary pads I had a large number of people barking at me-Glad to see positive results finally #PadManTalks https://t.co/zJqhxGhIx3 — Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) July 21, 2018

Miss World Manushi Chhillar and Mallika Sherawat also welcomed the decision. 

Manushi said, "When a girl understands that her body is a gift and doesn’t limit her in any way is when she will truly feel empowered. The revised GST on sanitary pads will surely make more girls feel that their needs are respected and menstruation doesn’t limit them in any way”.

Mallika Sherawat echoed Manushi's thoughts and said it was a step towards the right direction.  "It’s a step in the right direction. Sanitary pads are a necessity, not a luxury and this move will truly make menstrual hygiene accessible & affordable to many".