Jammu, March 2 (Scoop News) – The Governor, N. N. Vohra, has written to A. R. Rather, Finance Minister, and endorsed the representation received from a voluntary organization for increasing the tax rate on cigarettes and other tobacco products to discourage their use.
The Governor had received a Memorandum from A. M. Mir, Executive Director, J&K Voluntary Health and Development Association, Srinagar, which suggested that the rate of VAT on cigarettes and other tobacco products may be raised in the State budget (2011-12) to discourage consumption of these items which cause serious adverse affects on health.
While sending this Memorandum to the Finance Minister, the Governor has observed that it would go a long way in curbing the consumption of tobacco if the request made by the J&K Voluntary Health and Development Association, gets reflected in the ensuing Budget.