Last week, I watched a wooden blockmaker at work in Andhra Pradesh. I have always been drawn to this craft and could not resist buying a few wooden blocks with vintage designs and skillfully carved. I chose five coloured complex blocks hand-carved by these master craftsmen. Before leaving, I spent time with the craftspeople and listened to their achievements and challenges.
Later, I was handed the bill for my purchase with 18% GST. I can pay the tax very well, but my thoughts were more about the tax itself. When luxurious designer garments are sold at 12% GST, how did we tax 18% on this rural craft?
I might have some clues about it.
- While big companies that support solar and wind energies and rainwater harvesting get subsidies or sops, somehow, wooden block carving is not seen as a green craft; hence, it's taxed. The block-making craft involves using local, renewable resources, minimizing the environmental impact, and preserving traditional techniques passed down through generations, yet it is not recognized or rewarded as such.
- As we are busy trying to reach Mars and build symbolic statues, extending a helping hand to a rapidly vanishing heritage craft may not be our priority; hence, they are taxed. We seem to prioritize technological advancements over preserving our cultural heritage, neglecting the traditional crafts that are the backbone of our identity.
- Because we have failed to understand that a not-so-well-educated block maker is a botanist who understands the wood and its grain, an environmentalist who knows which tree to cut and when, a mathematician who knows the size of the block and its repeat, and an artist who can draw the most complicated design freehand, we have been conveniently taxing them. This vast expertise of the block makers needs to be recognized, leading to a lack of appreciation and higher taxation.
- As the hand-block carving community is small, lobby-less, marginalized, and voiceless, it's easier to tax them. Without a powerful voice to advocate for their needs, these artisans become an easy target for taxation.
- Though we know that this craft supports many block printers, which consume a lot of woven fabrics, we still prefer to ignore the value of their work and tax them. This interconnected value chain sustains livelihoods in rural areas, but its importance is overlooked.
- We prefer to see all businesses under the same tax ambit without understanding the nuances of the craft, so we have taxed them. This lack of consideration for the unique challenges faced by traditional crafts leads to unfair taxation.
- Despite knowing that the block-making craft can be employed in the village itself and, to an extent, stop migration to nearby cities, we still prefer to ignore the facts and tax them. Supporting the block-making craft could create employment opportunities within villages, reducing migration to cities.
- The apathy in our society, which does not see our artisans as the guardians of our indigenous craft, has led us to tax them. We fail to recognize the cultural treasures they hold, as eloquently stated by M.K. Gandhi: "It is in my firm opinion that no culture has treasures as rich as ours."
Yet, we have taxed our own culture.
As a small craft-based e-commerce business, Metaphor Racha is committed to supporting and preserving these traditional crafts, honouring the artisans who keep our culture alive. We invite you to celebrate and advocate for these invaluable cultural treasures.
Disclaimer: This post is not against any government but policies and was initially written in December 2018.