KATHMANDU, Sept 23: A group of youths belonging to the Youth Congress Nepal on Thursday staged a symbolic protest against what they said the government's decision to impose taxes on sanitary pads.
The agitating youths demanded the government to immediately withdraw 10 percent custom tax and 13 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on the sanitary items including sanitary pads used by women.
Impose tax on social networks: OAG
They carried placards that read 'exempt red tax', "Government, how long will you impose tax on monthly period?', and "Do not impose tax on my period". The symbolic demonstration of the youth group comes in the wake of heated debate going on in social media spheres in the past few days about 'unjust tax' imposed by the government.
The demonstrators alleged that the government had identified the sanitary products including sanitary pad as luxury items and imposed custom tax and VAT accordingly. Arguing that sanitary pads and other sanitary items are basic goods for women, they condemend the decision of the government to identify them as luxurious good.
Here are some photos of the protest taken by Republica journalist Monika Malla.
