Brick production will not start from Dussehra

- Antenna : Vivek Mehta

- Centre's order not to use red brick for constructions larger than 20,000 square meters: The brick kiln industry is also upset with the decision to increase the Goods and Services Tax from 5 percent to 12 percent.

The brick kiln industry is upset over the central government's February 22 notification ordering a ban on the use of red bricks for projects larger than twenty thousand square meters of construction. Gujarat Bricks Manufacturers Federation says, 'Gujarat has 1200 big brick kilns, which produce 30 to 40 lakh bricks or more annually. In contrast, the number of units is around 25,000, producing only two to three lakh bricks per year. Their existence is threatened.' A letter has also been written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.

Secondly, as the Finance Ministry has decided to increase the Goods and Services Tax on red bricks and tiles produced in brick kilns from 5 percent to 12 percent by issuing a notification dated 31st March 2022, the brick kiln industry will also suffer a major blow. Gujarat BRICS Manufacturers' Struggle Committee will protest against this increase. Provision has been made for giving input tax credit with the new increased tax of GST. However, both the slabs under the scheme of composition scheme (Lamsam) have been completely withdrawn. In the composition scheme of goods and services tax, it has been decided to charge six percent GST instead of one percent. It will destroy the dreams of the poor to build their own house. Also employment from brick kilns will also stop.

Scheme of composition is generally for small traders. It is said to save unorganized sector traders with its help. But the doors of Lamsam have been completely closed for the brick kiln industry. So the honest tax payers have also been wrongly burdened. On the other hand, even by increasing the GST rate, there is little possibility that the government will be able to generate huge revenue. Because small kilns do not have registration. The government has introduced a composition scheme for brick kiln owners and put them in the category of pan masala, tobacco and ice cream products. All these things are luxuries. While brick and red tiles are the basic requirement for building poor class houses. Bricks and red tiles are products made from natural materials. Everyone needs it. Red brick is not harmful to human race in any way. The government through their notification has tried to reduce its consumption and production. The logic behind this decision of the government is not understandable. Brick kilns fall under the category of cottage industries. However, the Forest and Environment Department of the Central Government has issued notification number 5733(1) and the government has decided not to use red clay bricks or tiles in construction projects larger than 2000 square meters. All the states have recommended the use of fly ash instead of red brick in the buildings under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. These decisions of the central and state governments are a blow to the brick kiln industry. Even small builders are getting hit. Thus efforts are being made to strangle the smaller units by all means. Instead, efforts are being made to promote different types of chosla makers from the fly ash that is in the hands of corporates.

It is also necessary to form a national level committee to study how badly the government's decision could affect the brick kilns. We also demand that representatives of the brick kiln industry be given place in it. Among our main demands are the demand to prepare a separate coal policy for the brick kiln owners as consumers and to create a nodal agency to ensure that the brick kiln industry gets coal at a uniform price across the country. Brick kiln owners should exempt us from the ban of e-auction. The increase in Goods and Services Tax should be rolled back. Prepare laws separately for workers working in brick kiln units. They should be given the benefit of social security, health insurance, accident insurance.

The government should allow payment to the workers in cash by introducing a rule that the owners of the brick kilns deposit a certain amount in the government on a daily or monthly basis per worker. Create a long-term excavation policy for brick kilns.

Clay for making red brick should be removed from the list of minor minerals. Finally remove the restriction on constructing any type of building from red brick. A system should be introduced to make bricks of the same size throughout the country.