GST Hike: Packed Milk And Food Products To Get Costlier In Kerala from Monday

Thiruvananthapuram: With the hike of 5 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on packed food products from Monday, milk and other allied products including lassi, ghee, and curd, will cost more in Kerala. One of the major providers of packet milk of 500 ml in the state, the Kerala state Milk Marketing Federation (MILMA) will increase the price of the products. The exact hike in the prices of packed milk products will be announced on Monday, MILMA Chairman KS Mani told mediapersons on Sunday.Also Read – Consumers To Pay More GST From Monday: Check List Of Items Becoming More Expensive From July 18

It may be noted that MILMA charges Rs 23 for a 500 ml pack and the increase in the price will be a major blow to the consumers who are largely depending on the state government-supported cooperative for the needs of milk in the state. Also Read – 5 Temples In India That Offer Liquor, Chocolates, DVDs, and Other Unusual Offerings To Gods

Rice and other food products, including cereals and pulses that come in packets, will also be charged higher from Monday onwards. Earlier, GST was levied only on branded food products but with the GST council, including all packed food products, rice and other cereals and pulses of non-branded varieties will also be increased. Also Read – Craving A Beach Day? Here Are The 5 Cleanest Beaches In India One Just Cannot Resist | See Pics

The cost of packet rice is expected to increase by a minimum of Rs 3 per kilogram from Monday onwards.

Sumesh Chandran, an autorickshaw driver at Thiruvananthapuram, while speaking to IANS said: “With the increase in petrol and diesel prices, the transport industry is facing a slump and we earn less than what we were getting earlier. Coupled with this, the increase in prices of essential commodities including rice and milk is giving us a body blow. I don’t know why our political leaders including the state finance minister kept a studied silence when the Central government was increasing the GST rates for packed food products.”

(With agency inputs)