MTU appeals to exempt tax this year
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 25 2024:
Pointing out that the conflict has impacted the people and their livelihoods; Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MTU) has urged the government to exempt taxes from the people this year including income tax and all other taxes relating to factory, industry and agriculture.
In a release, MTU secretary (administration) Mutum Churamani Meetei said that exemption of tax from the people is normal during times of war/conflict and natural disaster.
So, income tax department and departments concerned should not collect tax from the people for this year due to the conflict.
Stating that economy and livelihood of the people have been drastically impacted by Covid-19 pandemic in 2019 and the conflict that broke out since May 3, he said that the prices of goods have skyrocketed as there is no free movement along National Highways.
Factory, industries and business establishments are all on the verge of closure due to the impact.
Moreover, around 10,000 hectares of agricultural land are in buffer zone disallowing cultivation of crops.
As such, levying tax on the people this year is absolutely illogical, he added.
Regarding income tax, Churamani said that ILP is implemented in Manipur.
The implementation of ILP signified that 95 per cent of the people are recognised as schedule tribe.
Even though Meetei should be included in ST list, it is still not included as the government remained deaf to the people's demand, he claimed.
In view of the present situation, the secretary exhorted the government to look into the matter where taxes are collected only from the employed Meetei people.