TTD gets nod for GST exemption for Laddus

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), an autonomous board managing the affairs of India’s richest temple at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh has secured exemption from  GST for its Laddus.

The sale of  human hair and all rooms with rent below Rs 1000 on the Tirumala hills have also been exemped from GST.

According state finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on Monday who took TTD’s request in a memorandum addressed to the GST Council,   the temple trust board sought exemption for ingredients not only for laddus but also for items used for pooja and serving pilgrims at choultries, guest houses and the sale of human hair and other revenue sources.

However the minister said that the finance minister Arun Jaitley expressed his inability to exempt ingredients as other temples will also demand similar favour. The Minister said that the GST Council that met on 17 June has agreed to exempt laddus, human hair and low rate accomodation from taxable list

TTD spends Rs 160 crore annually on ingredients out of which the major chunk goes to  purchase of ghee, Rs. 60 crore for cashew nuts, Rs. 50 crore each for sugar and Bengal gram and Rs. 30 crore to Rs. 35 crore for the purchase of rice. While the TTD spends Rs 80 cr on free Annaprasada scheme it loses around Rs 250 cr on sale of laddus on subsidized rates.

Tirumala temple nestled on the top of seven hills in Chittoor district, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, attracts about 60,000 to 80,000 pilgrims every day from all over India and abroad. The number crosses one lakh on special occasions and festivals.

 In April this year, the TTD declared that it earned Rs 1,038 crore through cash offerings from devotees in 2016-17. During the financial year, over 2.68 crore devotees visited the shrine.

A total of 10.46 crore laddus were sold during the period. The TTD had approved the Rs 2,858 crore annual budget for 2017-18.