Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel urged the people to shop this Diwali buying earthen lamps, decorative items and idols from local potters and artisans. He also announced that no tax or fee will be levied from potters, small artisans and Self-Help Groups for selling their products. Their stalls will be exempt from civic bodies’ tax. Officials said that stalls, shops are set up by potters, self-help groups and small artisans for the sale of specially prepared materials for the occasion of Diwali. Diyas, lamps, sculptures and self-help groups made by potters, apart from many decorative items made by small artisans, are sold.
The government has decided to save such people from financial burden and directed to provide full cooperation and facilities to facilitate the sale of their goods. Usually, the civic and panchayat administration in districts collect tax or fee from such artisans for setting up roadside stalls to sell their products, an official said. Baghel told officials to give the artisans all facilities to do business in the festive season. The Chief Minister issued this order before leaving on a two-day tour to Lucknow. He will be then visiting Himachal Pradesh and will return to the state on October 27th.