Belagavi is known nationwide and even abroad for its unique Sarees weaved mostly on small power-looms in Vadgaon, Shahpur and neighboring areas. These Sarees have high demand but after the implementation of the GST, the weavers have not commenced work as they have to pay 5% GST. The weavers also demanded a wavier of their loans and conversion of the electric meters from Commercial to regular.
Today a protest rally began from Shahpur and ended at the DC office. Prior to GST, there was no tax levied in the textiles sector. They raised slogans against the imposition of tax saying it would be an extra burden on the weavers.
The weavers say that with the implementation of the GST the price of Raw materials will increase and hence the cost of the end product will also increase. Currently the market is not so good enough to bear this price hike and hence the GST on the Sarees must be removed.
Many organizations and the Shree Belgaum Cloth Merchants Association also supported the cause of the weavers.