Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday announced to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on textile products and carpets, druggets, woollens, durries, cotton floor durries and rugs from 12.5 % to 5 %. This would benefit the traders to the tune of about Rs 150 crore.

Hooda was addressing the representatives of various trade unions who had called on him here today from different parts of the State under the Banner of Haryana Pradesh Vayapar Mandal to thank him for taking a number of relief measures for the traders in the State.

Hooda also assured the traders that the State Government would favourably consider their demand to give further relief in filling VAT-D 3 Form. He said that the State Government had already increased this limit from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 for this form.

The textile products on which the VAT has been reduced included pillow covers sold with bed-sheets, comforters, duvet covers, cushion covers, bolster covers and ready to use curtains. Similarly, the relief would also be applicable on textile products like bed-sheets, bed covers, bed-spreads, towels, table cloths, curtains, napkins, shawls, saris and ladies suits on which any valued addition work like knitting, embroidery work has been done.

Hooda said that the aim of the present State Government was to ensure a secure and safe atmosphere for the traders and said that any officers found indulged in any illegal practice would not be tolerated at any cost and invite stern action against himself

Hooda said that after holding the reigns of the administration of the State Government in the year 2005, he has taken a number of decisions for the welfare of traders, be it the rice millers, dealers, cotton traders, tool retailers, corporate transport societies and auto rickshaw drivers. He said that apart from creating safe atmospheres, which is also free from any fear, for the traders in the state, the state government has also provided them major relief in payment of taxes. He said that the economic condition of any State depends upon the farmers and traders and if both of them remain prosperous the state will flourish. During the last more than eight years the State has made tremendous progress in every field and the traders have contributed a lot in this development, he added.

While taking a dig at the previous INLD-BJP government, Hooda questioned if anyone could tell him any single step which they have taken in the interest of traders in the state. On the other hand, the present state government has taken a number of steps for their welfare. The state government has reduced the rate of tax to four per cent on 169 items, used in manufacturing sector. Apart from this, sale tax on many items has either been reduced or fully abolished.

This has not only benefitted the traders but also given major relief to the common man. Similarly, the traders paying annual tax of less than Rs. one lakh have also been given exemption from filling tax return. Apart from this, the minimum limit of issuing cash memo has been increased from Rs 100 to Rs 300.

Hooda said that the state government has also made a provision of tax return on direct and indirect export of paddy. As per the Milling Policy of Kharif 2013, Rs. 20 lakh per person was to be charged from rice millers for milling of paddy. But now it has been reduced to Rs five lakh.

Hooda said that keeping in view the interest of the rice millers, the State Government has restored driage charges of one per cent of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the rice millers. This has benefited the rice mill owners to the tune of Rs 200 crore. Hooda said that recently the government has also rationalized and simplified the property tax thus benefitting a large number of people.

Speaking on the occasion Agriculture Minister Paramvir Singh said that prior to the year 2005, there was an atmosphere of terror among the traders in the State and the industries were migrating. But the present State Government led by chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has provided a terror free atmosphere to the traders as a result of this the State has attracted a record investment .

While thanking Hooda, president, Haryana Pradesh Vayapar Mandal Bajrang Das Garg said that Hooda has always provided relief to the traders in the state. Whereas, the previous government has always neglected their interests. Garg assured Hooda that traders are with him and Congress would form the government in Haryana for the third consecutive term under the leadership of Hooda.

MLA DK Bansal, Anil Arya and President, Haryana Rice Miller Association Satpal Gupta also spoke on the occasion.

Chief parliamentary secretary Rao Daan Singh, MLAs namely Anand Singh Dangi and Naresh Sharma, principal OSD to chief minister MS Chopra, OSD residence Randhir Singh and Ravinder Hooda, OSD BR Beri and large number of representatives of various trade unions were also present on this occasion.