India announces exemption of customs import duty on Kerala-bound aid materials
Over the last three months, the southern Indian state of Kerala had been ravaged by deadly floods and it is now slowly getting back on its feet.
Promises of help have been pouring in from all around the world, with HH The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also promising an aid of $5m to the state.
Qatar Living user Greeeker had also written about his experiences of living through the catastrophe.
India, on its part, has announced that all relief materials sent into the country by Non-Resident Indians and other agencies for helping Kerala’s flood victims will be exempt from customs duty and GST, reported Gulf Times.
India stands with Kerala in this hour of need. Central Government is exempting basic customs duty and IGST for the consignments of aid and relief materials being despatched or imported from abroad for the affected people.
The announcement, which was made by Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal yesterday, says that items such as foodstuffs, medicines, medical stores of perishable nature, clothing and blankets imported for the relief and rehabilitation of people affected by flood have been exempted from whole of customs duty and integrated tax.
The above exemption can be claimed by any charitable organisation in compliance with the conditions mentioned in the notification.
The exemptions will be applicable to all aid goods sent to the Central Government, the Government of Kerala, or as the case may be, the relief agencies of both the governments.
The exemption will also extend to relief agencies duly approved by the Central Government or the Government of Kerala for the purpose.
To get benefits of the exemption, the importer should certify on the relevant clearance documents that the goods are intended to be donated, free of cost, for the relief and rehabilitation of the people affected by the floods in Kerala.
The notification also makes it mandatory for the importer to obtain a certificate from the District Magistrate of the affected area in Kerala that the said goods have been donated for use for the aforesaid purpose.
The certificate is required to be produced before the Deputy Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner of Customs, within six months from the date of importation of the said good or an extended period as allowed by the officials.
The exemption from BCD and IGST for relief and rehabilitation material to be used for Kerala flood victims will be valid until December 31, 2018.
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