An item that you need often isn’t luxury, especially something like sanitary napkins and tampons, which are a basic necessity for women. But even though these are essential in every woman’s life, do you know that there is a heavy tax levied on it (in Britain). I wonder if this is because we live in an unequal society that doesn’t consider the needs of women.
British politician Stella Creasy, who is a Labour Co-operative representative and has been a member of the parliament for the London Constituency of Walthamstow since 2010, made a very valid point in her recent speech.
When she discussed a proposed amendment to the finance bill to renegotiate the five per cent tax that applies on sanitary products, as they are considered as luxury items, she said, “Tampons and sanitary towels have always been considered a luxury…that is by design of an unequal society.”
She pointed out how our society doesn’t pay attention to the concerns of women as compared to those of men. She went on to compare tampons to a host of other products like Jaffa Cakes and Pitta Breads, all of which qualify as necessities but women’s sanitation products don’t.
Currently, in England, women are charged a government fee to purchase tampons, which Stella wants revoked.
In this video, Stella gives a brilliant explanation of why tampons and women’s sanitation products are not luxury items.
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While she’s campaigning the cause, the ‘Stop Taxing Periods’ petition reached 252,000 signatures and received wide political support too.
A lot has been talked about menstrual hygiene in India too and how the condition of women is pathetic. Surrounded by myths and superstitious a woman, during her period, has a lot to go through especially in India.
Add up a luxury tax and you’ll have even more people avoiding to use this basic item required for sanitation. Currently in India there is a one per cent luxury tax on sanitary items along with an import duty and countervailing duty which increases the cost of the product.
If Stella’s campaign is anything to go by, we in India too need to take effective measures to make sanitary products cheaper and easily available because they sure are a necessity.
Image courtesy: Reuters
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