New Delhi: In a powerful critique, Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha has brought attention to the extensive reach of India’s taxation system, highlighting how citizens are taxed throughout their lives, from birth to death. The question at the heart of Chadha’s argument is what benefits citizens receive in return for their contributions, particularly in key sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Chadha’s address in the Rajya Sabha outlined the pervasive nature of taxes, emphasizing how they impact every stage of life. From the moment a child is born, vaccines, hospital rooms, and baby care items are taxed with GST. As children grow, baby food, diapers, and toys incur GST rates between 12% and 18%. The teenage years introduce new taxes on smartphones, internet services, and entertainment activities like watching movies.
Higher education brings additional expenses with GST on tuition fees, hostel accommodations, and student loan processing fees. Once individuals enter the workforce, direct taxes such as TDS and income tax become significant, along with taxes on everyday activities like dining out and insurance premiums.
In middle age, the tax burden peaks along with income, including taxes on vehicles and property-related charges. Even in retirement, taxes continue on pensions, healthcare bills, and legal fees associated with wills. Remarkably, even after death, the government levies GST on items used in last rites and charges duties on property transfers.
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