Watch: MP Sushmita Dev Breaks Down the Bloody GST on Sanitary Pads

The Quint spoke to Sushmita Dev, MP from Silchar, who launched a petition to make sanitary pads tax free in March.

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Are sanitary napkins an essential item?

Well, even if you think so, the Goods and Services Tax council doesn’t agree. It has taxed them at 12% and kept sindoor (vermilion), bindis, and bangles tax-free.

Also Read: The Govt Thinks I Need Pizza & Sindoor More Than Sanitary Pads

The Quint spoke to Sushmita Dev, Member of Parliament for Silchar in Assam, who launched a petition to make sanitary pads tax free in March. She expressed her disappointment at the way sanitary napkins are still treated as a luxury item, but says she is hopeful that a debate has been initiated in this regard.