Sex is choice, periods are not – Bengaluru women educate Modi!

Give safty napkins FREE! – Make India’s women folk to stay clean, then go to ‘Swatch Bharat’.

dr. james kottoor

James KottorLife is a long journey, or better, it is a marathon race. Among all the Prime Ministers of India, who will take the coveted first price in this race? No doubt, it is Modi, Modi, Modi! and none other. 

He had only just landed amidst cow protection mobocracy in India after a dash to  capitals of four countries in Europe, and he is off again to few other capitals starting with Israel before or instead of, dousing the  wild fire burning India to ashes. What is important: douse the fire consuming own house to ashes or hugging global leaders? Save own house or come first in the obstacle race? Both! But the ancient wisdom saying: “Bene currit, sed extra viam!(Runs (Modi) well and fastest, but outside the track!” seems to apply best to our much admired and beloved Modiji, our PM and undoubtedly a Man of action!

Similarly GST is perhaps the best of reforms Modi has introduced. But the vast majority of our sisters in India do not buy ‘sanitory napkins’ simply because they, 80% of women, cannot just afford to buy them, nay they cannot even find enough clean cloth for such use. Then what to think of a government raising their tax to 12%? Is it only because GST council has only men who don’t bleed and no women as members? These napkins should be given free to the poor if Modiji believes really in ‘Swatch Bharat’, and serving the poor first. What is most important is to help our women folk to be and stay clean first bodily: “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”. Flood India with safety napkins! Distribute sanitary napkins free, as they do with  condoms and birth control pills, to give to bodly cleanliness top priority. Sex is free, not ‘periods’ for women!

Why luxury tax is on sanitary napkins! Are periods (bleeding) a luxury for women?  Do only  rich women bleed? So give it  FREE to help our women folks, half of our population, to stay clean, first bodly, then in mind and heart, only then work to  clean up surroundings they live in! Long live “Swatch Bharat” campaign! james kottoor, editor, ccv.


Please read report below in Matters India – Published on: July 5, 2017 by: mattersindia.com              

Bengaluru: Women across the state have lashed out at Modi-led government for levying 12 percent tax on sanitary pads.

The enraged women have started campaign on social media, “Don’t tax on my period” against the central government for causing injustice to women. Under GST, Kumkum and bangles have been made tax-free but the government has levied 12 percent tax on sanitary pads.

“Sex is a choice, but periods are not. When condom is tax free why can’t napkins be?”, women have raised their voice.

Renowned Gynecologist from Bengaluru Padmini Prasad lashed out at the central government for levying 12 percent tax on sanitary pads. “Even now women in rural areas cannot afford to buy sanitary pads. I support this campaign,” she said.

Several women vented their anger against the present GST reform which PM Modi had labelled as “Good and Simple Tax.” They also demanded that sanitary pads should be given at a subsidised rate instead of putting taxes on them.

One of the Twitter users commented, “The only explanation for sanitary napkins being taxed at 12 percent under GST is that the GST Council has ‘only’ men on it and men don’t get periods.”

Another woman commented, “About 80 percent of the Indian women can’t afford proper menstrual hygiene.12 percent GST on sanitary napkins. 0 percent on sindoor, bangles and bindis. Do ask Mr Arun Jaitley why?”Another woman supporting the campaign said, “Why luxury tax is levied on sanitary napkins! Only rich women bleed? Its high time we should know its an essential not luxury.”         

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1 Response

  1. Isaac Gomes says:

    GST is the best of reforms which Modi Government has introduced in its three years in office. It has unfied India into one tax regime and will cut down considerably on time and differential expenses like Excise, Octroi, etc and above all inter state harassment.   It is a unifying effect, one common tax on goods and service all across all state of India, never done before in 70 years of India's Independence. Some states like J&K, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telegana and West Bengal are raising a hue and cry just for show for the states will get at least 50:50 share of taxes collected through GST. Not only that, all the states have got written assurance from the Central Government that for any loss of revenue due to GST, they will be compensated, FOR FIVE YEARS! Therefore, for five years there will be no loss of revenue for the states.  So one can easily understand that all thie hullabaloo by some states and vested interest groups, is nothing but pure drama to fool the masses.

    The levy of 12% GST on sanitary napkins will definitely hurt consumers. But on account of 50:50 sharing of GST collection between the Centre and the States,  it is only to be expected that  the States will not speak against this tax. For their share will go down.  Also it is to be seen whether post GST sanitary napkins become costlier than they were before. Another point is GST impact on all commodities is still to crystalise.  Any major move will have teething problems but ultimately the aim of the government is to deliver goods and services at a lower cost than before with a multiplicity of taxes (Excise, Octroi, VAT, etc).

    Regarding the proposal for FREE distribution of sanitary napkins to the Indian women, it is no doubt a very good  proposal particularly to ensure Swachh Bharat.  But there is nothing called a free lunch (some body has to pay for it, even if distributed free).  Also charity begins at home.  Why can't the Catholic Church led by CBCI Women's and Health Cells set an example by ensuring each diocese distributes free sanitary napkins through their respective parishes?  It will be a wonderful act of charity (of course funded by some generous donors) on the part of the Catholic Church.  It will also help women who are treated by the Church as second-class citizens (in spite of extolling Mother Mary to the sky) come forward and empower themselves.  The Indian Catholic Church has no dearth of money, except when it comes to payment of fair wages to its nurses, teachers and workers.  In this great work of Swachh Bharat, it (Church) can also  tap rich business persons like George Sebastian Kizhakkeyil of Kerala, who built up a 100 million rupees church (Holy Redeemer in Kozhikode  – formerly Calicut), in April this year. He was reportedly inspired by his wife Chinnamma.  There is a saying behind every great man is a great woman.  I am sure several Chinnammas can inspire Modi and India.  By taking charge of good health and hygiene, they can also take their rightful place in the Indian Church. 

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