On Thursday, March 9, 2023, Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, announced the state budget 2023 to the legislature. The first budget of the Shinde-led government prioritises farmers, women, youths, employment, and the environment.
One of the significant announcements was to broaden the category of “Person with Disabilities” in the Profession Tax Act and raise the professional tax threshold for women.
The definition of ‘Person with Disability’ in the Profession Tax Act is proposed to be amended as per the definition given in the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Not only will this proposed modification make it possible for more disabled people to qualify for the professional tax exemption, but it will also make the current exemption process simpler.
Currently, employed women must pay professional tax if their monthly wage exceeds Rs. 10,000. It is recommended that this threshold be raised to Rs. 25,000 in order to provide women more purchasing power. Simply stated, women are exempt from profession tax if their wages are up to 25,000.
India’s profession tax is a state-level tax on callings, trades, and employment. West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh are the Indian states that impose a profession tax.
Apart from the professional tax exemption there were many other announcements which favour women of the state which is a model for every other state and even for the Central Government.
The Maharashtra government also announced the introduction of “Shakti Sadan,” a new programme that will combine the Swadhar and Ujjwala programmes to offer shelter to women who are in need, have been freed from sexual exploitation, or are dealing with domestic violence. According to him, the survivors would receive housing, support in court, medical attention, and counselling.
According to Section 27A of Profession Tax Act, Maharashtra State, any person suffering from a permanent physical disability (including blindness), being a permanent physical disability specified in the rules made in this behalf by the State Government, which is certified by a physician, a surgeon or an oculist, as the case may be, working in a Government Hospital is exempt from Complete amount of professional tax payable.
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