Govt clears its stand; jewellers to take call on Mar 17 over strike

New Delhi/Mumbai, Mar 16 (KNN) The jewellers strike has entered 14th day today, but still no solution has come out yet.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley indicated on Monday that the government would not withdraw its Budget announcement of one per cent excise duty on gold jewellery.

He said this was to prepare for the national goods and services tax (GST).

Responding to this, Ashok Minawala, Spokesperson of  All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation said that we will take a call on 17th of this month whether to call off the strike or not.

He also told that jewellers will hold a rally on Thursday6 against the one percent excise duty proposed on jewellery.

He cleared that excise is the subject of excise department and officers make the guildelines not the Government.

On the other hand, the situation is worrisome as over 10-million skilled jewellery artisans and craftsmen across India, who get paid on a per-job basis, have been hit badly due to the strike. Last week, a worker at a jewellery-making unit in Indore reportedly committed suicide due to financial distress.

When asked about the conditions of the artisans he said that we are paying the wages to the artisans and industry is taking care of themselves. (KNN Bureau)