UP govt exempts CRPF canteens from VAT

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh government has given in to a long-pending demand of CRPF jawans to exempt their canteens from Value Added Tax.

The state government issued a notification exempting canteens being run for Central Reserve Police Force from VAT on April 4, Deputy Inspector General of Police Bhanu Pratap Singh said.

He said CRPF jawans were of the view that Army canteens were exempt from VAT, and the same should apply for them.

The DIG said Union Minister of State for Home Affairs R P N Singh had met Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in this regard in December last year and requested that in the wake of problems being faced by jawans, CRPF canteens should be exempted from VAT.

Singh said all the officers and jawans of the central force have expressed their gratitude towards the union minister and the chief minister for the step.