Kolkata: Sonagachi Sex Workers Might Not Use Sanitary Pads After Imposition of 12% GST

The sex workers in Sonagachi, Asia's largest red light area in Kolkata, are largely affected by the 12 per cent GST on sanitary napkins imposed under the new tax regime.

Kolkata, July 9: The sex workers in Sonagachi, Asia’s largest red light area in Kolkata, are largely affected by the 12 per cent GST on sanitary napkins imposed under the new tax regime. The tax is likely to increase the prices of sanitary napkins, which might compel the sex workers to switch back to the use of cloths, considered to be unhygienic.

“In 2000, the rate of usage of sanitary napkins among sex workers was 20 per cent and now more than 85 per cent of them use sanitary napkins,” Samarjit Jana, an official of Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), the umbrella organisation of the sex workers, told PTI. Samarjit also told that it happened because of a sustained awareness campaign, and also due to the sale of sanitary pads at subsidised rates.

A 34-year-old sex worker, Soma, and a mother of two said that she would not use sanitary pads if the prices are hiked. She said, “It is a necessity for us. But if the prices go up, we will be left to go in for alternative means to maintain hygiene”. A DMSC official said that the subsidised napkins were sold by Usha Multipurpose Cooperative Society, commonly known as Usha Bank formed in 1995. 60-70 thousand packets of sanitary napkins were sold from the counters of Usha bank and Durbar to sex workers in Kolkata, every month. (ALSO READ: GST: Sanitary Napkins and Cigarettes to Become Expensive from July 1)

“We placed bulk orders with a company, which supplied the sanitary pads at a rate mush lower than the market. But now most of these companies have refused to provide them at subsidized rates on the ground that raw materials have been charged at 12-18 per cent GST,” another official of Durbar said. They have however welcomed the zero percent tax on condoms as it will help to bring down the chances of AIDS. “We have been able to bring down the AIDS prevalence to a large extent and we want to bring it to zero per cent by 2025. The zero per cent GST on condoms will bring down its prices and will encourage the usage of it”, Jana said.