Well said. And as for apple products, well it's very clear that Apple's accessibility is very intuitive. So, people have to stretch their budget to get those devices. No, I am not at all starting an Apple vs. Android debate. Plus, one can live without these Apple products, but living without assistive technologies is not possible. And for the organizations distributing those tools, yes, they do. But then, at the end, if anything fails, or any other problem, it's the beneficiaries who suffer. Just as I said before in my previous email, the ratio between cans and cannots in our country is not that good yet. We have more cannots than compared to cans. So, I think we have to think about them as well. Now, I want to take a very basic, real-life example to illustrate why there should be 0% GST for assistive devices. And, yes, I'll be neutral.
A Real-Life Example: Wheelchair vs. Television Imagine a person with a severe physical disability who needs a specialized wheelchair to be mobile. This isn't just a basic manual chair, but an advanced, motorized one with custom supports. Let's say it costs ₹2,00,000. When the government adds a 5% GST, the price increases by ₹10,000, bringing the total to ₹2,10,000. Now, let's compare this to an able-bodied person buying a luxury item, like a high-end television for their home, also costing ₹2,00,000. They are also paying GST. But the key difference is that the television is a want, and the wheelchair is an absolute need. Some might say, "Why can't the person with a disability just get a cheaper model, like the person can get a cheaper TV?" This argument falls apart very quickly. A person buying a TV has a choice; they can buy a cheaper model or no TV at all without any real impact on their life. The person with the disability doesn't have that luxury. The "cheaper" wheelchair might not have the correct posture support to prevent health issues, or the right motor to safely navigate their daily environment. Downgrading is not an option; it's a sacrifice of a basic human function. Then, they might say, "If a person is paying ₹2,00,000, can't they also pay the extra ₹10,000?" Again, this misses the point entirely. The GST on the wheelchair is not a one-time expense. People with disabilities face a host of other unavoidable costs, like ongoing medical care, special transport, and other tools. The 5% GST on the wheelchair is just one part of a continuous and heavy financial burden. The real question is not whether they can pay, but whether the government should be taxing a fundamental necessity. This isn't about giving a handout. It's about removing a financial barrier that stands in the way of a person's ability to be independent, go to work, and contribute to our country. -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAJZg8ffetjeFCLcfO_qmoDNDP0tTXN%3D4-_KqrqTQm2GZ%3DFKJpA%40mail.gmail.com.
