AHEAD of a crucial GSTCouncil meeting on tax rationalisation health and economic experts have called for a higher‘Sin Tax’ on tobacco and similar harmful products to curb their consumption and bolster public health and the economy. At a webinar organised by ‘Tobacco Free India’, a citizens’ initiative, experts endorsed the recent recommendation by the Group of Ministers (GoM) for a 35percent‘SinTax’sl abon tobacco products, up from thecurrent 28 per cent. They argued that increasing taxes ontobaccowouldnot only savelivesbutalsostrengthen the economyandadvancethevision of a healthy and Viksit Bharat.

 

They emphasised that this step would curb tobacco consumption andfund preventive healthcare initiatives. “Tobacco-related diseases place an unsustainable burden on India’s health system. Tax hikes have proven globally effective in reducing tobacco consumption,” said Dr Alok Thakar, Head of the National Cancer Institute, Govt. Of India and Professor at AIIMS, NewDelhi. He also suggested that India must include all tobacco products under a stronger tax net to prevent users from shifting to cheaper, harmful alternatives. The GST Council, chaired by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister SamratChaudhary,is scheduled tomeetonDecember21todeliberate on the GoM’s proposals.