VIJAYAWADA: In a bid to ensure the benefits of GST 2.0 reach every household, the Andhra Pradesh government has launched a comprehensive awareness campaign titled ‘Super GST - Super Savings’.
The initiative aims to educate citizens about the benefits of GST reforms through a series of awareness programmes across the State.
During a video conference at his camp office on Monday, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the GST 2.0 campaign’s progress with the Cabinet Sub-Committee, directing officials to organise 65,000 meetings and events by October 19 to spread awareness about reduced taxes on daily essentials, medicines, stationery, textiles, sports equipment, transportation, and items for women and children.
The campaign, themed ‘GST Benefits to Every Household’, has already made strides in creating awareness about tax reductions at the grassroots level.
The Chief Minister emphasised the need for sector-specific outreach programmes to ensure all communities, including farmers, MSME owners, students, and consumers, understand the financial benefits of GST 2.0.
The government has planned a series of events from September 30 to October 19, covering sectors such as agriculture, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), handlooms, aquaculture, education, insurance, electronics, e-commerce, construction, tourism, hospitality, transportation, logistics, sports equipment, renewable energy, and automobiles.
To engage farmers, the government will organise tractor rallies and farm machinery exhibitions to highlight tax benefits.
MSME units, including those under APCO, Lepakshi, and the One District-One Product Scheme, will showcase their products at fairs, emphasising tax reductions.
Awareness drives in salons, yoga centres, and gyms will focus on price differences due to lower GST rates.
Grand shopping festivals to mark end of campaign in all district hqs
For students, essay writing and painting competitions will be held across 7,000 high schools and 4,000 junior colleges to educate them about reduced prices on stationery, and other essentials.
Further, the campaign will promote zero GST on life and health insurance, ensuring widespread awareness among citizens. Over 850 district, constituency, and mandal-level programmes will involve manufacturers and dealers to highlight price reductions on electronics goods.
The e-commerce sector will hold bike rallies by gig workers and exhibitions of swadeshi products to promote tax benefits in a big way.
Similar initiatives, including exhibitions and rallies, are planned for construction, hospitality, transportation, logistics, toys, sports equipment, renewable energy, and automobiles, with over 200 events dedicated to raising awareness about price impact on these sectors.
The campaign will culminate on October 19 with grand shopping festivals and cultural programmes across district headquarters, coinciding with Diwali celebrations.
Naidu directed officials to leverage radio, television, print media, social media, and cinema theatres for extensive publicity. He also instructed the installation of hoardings at government offices to highlight GST 2.0 benefits.