Govt. to refund GST collected from langars
New Delhi-Keeping 2019 in mind Modi led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has taken a major decision to refund the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collected from various religious institutions in India. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government had been facing criticism from several quarters, including its staunch supporter and Punjab based regional party Shiromani Akalai Dal for having imposed GST on selfless service of langar (community kitchen).
After debacle in the recently by elections and regular demand raised by Shiromani Akali Dal and Capt Amarinder Singh led Congress Govt in Punajb the NDA Government has decided to refund the GST collected from langars organised by various religious institutions. Due to technical reasons, the GST cannot be withdrawn but the Centre has now taken a decision to refund the already collected GST from various religious institutions.
In a order signed by Parveen Sharma, Under Secy, Govt of India under Ministry of Culture, Govt of India stated that “President of India has given his consent for lunching of the Scheme of Financial Assistance under ‘SevaBhoj Yojana’ from financial year 2018-2019 to the financial year 2019-20 with the financial outlay of Rs. 325 crore. Under this schemes CGST and Central Government’s share of IGST paid on purchase of specific items by charitable religious institutions for distributing free food to public shall be reimbursed as financial assistance by the Govt of India”. The order further said that the expenditure involved would be debitable to the alloted budget head of the relevant years.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Harsimarat Kaur Badal,Shiromani Akali Dal MP from Ananadpur Sahib Prem Singh Chandumajra has welcomed the decision and has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his decision to refund GST at langars.The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK have also welcomed the decision and have thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this decision.
