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.

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.