« Top Headlines » Open DEMAT Account in 24 hrs  Delhi HC Rules GST Registration Cannot Be Cancelled Retrospectively Without a Clear Show Cause Notice (SCN)  Belated income tax return AY 2026-27: How to file, late filing charges and what you may lose  Major Financial Changes from August 1, 2026: ITR Deadline, RBI MPC Meeting, Tatkal Ticket Rules & More  Government proposes to ease tax relief conditions for offshore funds  TallyPrime Connected Banking: Automating Banking and Accounting  ITR Filing Deadline 2026: Is July 31 the Last Date to File Your Income Tax Return? Latest Official Update  ITR filing deadline nears: How to file income tax return online on e-filing portal - quick 15-step guide  Will the ITR Filing Deadline Be Extended Beyond July 31 for FY 2025-26? Here's the Latest Update for Taxpayers  Income Tax Refund Delayed for AY 2026-27? 5 Common Reasons Your Refund May Be Stuck and How to Fix It  ITR Filing 2026: FM Nirmala Sitharaman Asks Tax Officials to Let Honest Taxpayers Correct Genuine Mistakes  Will Your FCNR Deposit Stay Tax-Free After Returning to India? Tax Rules Explained for NRIs «  Depositors look for short-term plans... TN to make public VAT provisions soon... » Plea to exempt rubberised coir from ST, excise duty September, 21st 2006 The All India Coir Mattress Manufacturers' Association has suggested that the government exempt rubberised coir from sales tax and excise duty to help increase production. The Association President, Mr S. Sundaresan, said already competitive products such as PU foam and latex foam are charged lower tariffs in different States. However, the coir has to fight an unfair competition and the authorities have to seriously look into the matter. More manufacturing units He said the coir mattress-manufacturing sector had grown from 8 units in the 60s to more than 85 units. The annual sales in the sector are to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore. The industry has registered an approximate growth of about 10 per cent per annum since 1995. This is the largest consumer of brown fibre to make a value-added utility product for the common man, he said. He also demanded that cluster-based development should be organised in coconut- growing areas considering the substantial improvement in the utilisation of husk during the last three years. From the national average of 35 per cent, the utilisation of husk has moved to nearly 50 per cent. In view of good monsoon and subsequent good crop of coconut, the availability of coconut fibre has vastly improved over the last year, he said. Considering this, the Coir Board should encourage these industries by guiding them to keep good quality for producing a better product, he added. Liberal loans The Association President said that the Board should help the existing industry by providing liberal loans for technological upgradation. A separate wing may be formed in Central Coir Research Institute for research and development. The Board should also write to all State Governments to use rubberised coir mattresses in hospitals and other medical care centres for the growth of the industry.