INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Government may tax food items rich in sugar and fats to curb rising obesity among childrenNew Delhi: Government could consider taxing food
items high on sugar, fat and salt content and which dont have front-of-the-pack labelling, in order to tackle rising obesity among people in
the country.This has been stated by government think tank Niti Aayogs annual report for 2021-22
According to it, government is analysing evidences available to decide upon measures which can be taken to tackle the problem
Taxing food items which lead to obesity is one of the possibilities.Niti Aayog noted that obesity is especially rising among children,
adolescents and women in India."A national consultation on the prevention of maternal, adolescent and childhood obesity was organised under
the chairmanship of member (Health), Niti Aayog, on June 24, 2021, to discuss policy options to tackle the issue.�Niti Aayog is
reviewing the evidence available to understand the actions India can take, such as front-of-pack labelling, marketing and advertising of
high fat content�foods and taxation of foods high in fats, sugar and salt, " it said.Non-branded namkeens, bhujias, vegetable chips and
snack foods attract 5 per cent GST while for branded and packaged items, the GST rate is 12 per cent.According to the National Family Health
Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-20, the percentage of obese women increased to 24 per cent from 20.6 per cent in 2015-16, while the percentage for men
rose to 22.9 per cent from 18.4 per cent four years earlier.The government think tank in its annual report also said that an expert
committee under Niti Aayog member V K Saraswat to study the technological and commercial viability of the hyperloop system held four
meetings so far and sub-committees were constituted.The sub-committees suggested that hyperloop system be permitted to be built, owned and
operated by the private sector and the government act as a facilitator by providing certification, permissions, tax benefits and land (if
possible), etc," it said.The report said a blueprint will be prepared to develop indigenously built hyperloop technology.According to the
annual report, the sub-committees also said that the government will not invest its fund and private players will take the full business
risks.Hyperloop is a technology proposed by inventor and businessman Elon Musk, who is behind the electric car company Tesla and the
commercial space transport company SpaceX.
