Bengal Govt Announces No Income Tax on Agri Products for Next 2 Years

According to West Bengal's Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, the state government has determined that farmers will not be required to pay income tax on any agricultural products for the ensuing two fiscal years.

The state administration has also declared the temporary suspension of two types of cess on unprocessed tea leaves.

Bhattacharya stated that the current exemption period for agricultural income tax expires on March 31 while presenting the Finance Bill to the legislature.

She added that in order to assist those who pay sales tax, the state government has implemented a 'detailed and easy' plan to address problems with tax arrears.

Bhattacharya stated in her budget address on February 15 that the income tax exemption on agricultural products would be kept without the imposition of new taxes.

According to official sources, the West Bengal government has also resolved to fill thousands of openings in numerous departments, including agriculture and minorities.

Earlier this week, West Bengal formally demanded their rights at the National Human Rights Commission's headquarters in New Delhi by filing a complaint. The workers filed a memo outlining their fundamental demand for wages that were past due by more than a year.

The Bengal workers are taking part in a 100-day demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi that will begin on March 13 and is being organised by a group of 20 to 25 rights organisations from across India.

According to the protesters, no payment order has been issued since the last fund transfer order to the state was released on December 26, 2021.