Maliwal issues notice to sanitary napkin manufacturers over not giving tax rebate on pads

Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal has issued notice to some sanitary napkin manufacturers over allegations that they were not passing on to consumers the tax rebate on sanitary pads.

Last year on July 21, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council slashed the GST rate on sanitary napkins from 12 per cent to zero.

Maliwal said that several women, during a march to promote woman safety, complained to her that sanitary napkin manufacturers did not reduced the prices.

"Companies cannot eat into the rebate for women. Issued Notices to all MNCs selling sanitary pads on non reduction of prices of sanitary pads despite GST being reduced from 12 per cent to 0 per cent!(sic)," she said in a tweet.

Maliwal also said that due to unaffordable sanitary napkins in the country, more than 80 per cent women and girls have been forced to compromise on personal hygiene and resort to unclean means during their menstrual cycle.

"Further, over 23 per cent girls are forced to drop out of school ..