Watching Cinema and OTT gets Costlier - Film Lovers are the Target
To help fund cinema and cultural workers, the karnataka government intends to impose a new tax on movie tickets and OTT subscriptions. A 1%–2% tax is suggested by the karnataka Cine and Cultural workers (Welfare) Bill, which was introduced in the state assembly on Friday.
The money raised would go towards paying cultural and film artists' social security benefits, such as PF and ESI. "The 'Cine and Cultural Activists Welfare Cess' will be a tax on movie tickets, subscription fees, and any proceeds from associated businesses in the state. The Bill states that the government will determine the exact amount of this tax, which will range from one to two percent.
The money raised would go towards paying cultural and film artists' social security benefits, such as PF and ESI. "The 'Cine and Cultural Activists Welfare Cess' will be a tax on movie tickets, subscription fees, and any proceeds from associated businesses in the state. The Bill states that the government will determine the exact amount of this tax, which will range from one to two percent.
This move coincides with the issue surrounding the Kannadiga job reservation law that the karnataka government data-faced. There has been a lot of opposition to this law, which calls for a 50% reservation for administrative positions and a 75% reservation for non-administrative positions in private sector occupations. The law has been placed on hold indefinitely, as declared by chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday. Furthermore, there is criticism that the state is losing a lot of money because of the free bus program for women and is now taxing moviegoers to make up for it because they are easy pickings.