Kerala - Kozhikode   

Tax waiver for rehabilitation centre

Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE: The Government has waived the sales tax arrears on items manufactured by the rehabilitation centre of the Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (IMHANS) at the Mental Health Centre, Kuthiravattom.

A tax waiver of Rs.3,64,509 payable as sales tax surcharge and interest for the period 1990 to 1999 has been provided to the rehabilitation centre.

A directive from the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Thiruvananthapuram, says that sales tax exemption would be given on the turnover of the sale of goods manufactured by the centre.

Court directive

The High Court had interalia directed that such tax exemption should be given to the centre for items made by the cured mental patients and those undergoing treatment.

The Advocate General of the State had taken keen interest in ensuring that tax waiver is provided for the products manufactured by the IMHANS rehabilitation centre.

P.N. Suresh Kumar, director, IMHANS, said the sales tax waiver has come as a relief to the centre.

Rehabilitation measures

Rehabilitation of the mentally ill has been a primary concern of the IMHANS.

The inmates of the centre engage in activities such as bookbinding, manufacturing cardboard cartons and medicine covers.

Rehabilitation helps patients become independent individuals capable of coping with the daily routine.

Those engaged in the centre earn between Rs.500 and Rs.700 a week.

For many patients, it is the sole means of livelihood for their family.

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