Assam Government Launches GST Reimbursement Scheme for Bell Metal Industry

New Initiative for Bell Metal Manufacturers

Guwahati, July 11: The Assam Cabinet has recently given the green light to the Assam Goods and Services Tax (Reimbursement for Indigenous Bell Metal Industries) Scheme, 2025.

This initiative will ensure that the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) paid by local bell metal producers is fully reimbursed, offering substantial financial support to this traditional sector.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced this at Lok Sewa Bhawan, stating, “The artisans in Sarthebari will pay the GST, and their SGST will be refunded. This is a project the cabinet has been developing for some time, and we are confident it will provide essential financial assistance to our indigenous bell metal producers.”

In a bid to enhance the bell metal sector, the Chief Minister had previously declared a Rs 5 crore loan for manufacturers during his visit to Sarthebari in September 2022. He also mentioned that loans and credits totaling Rs 5 crore, taken by various entrepreneurs in the bell metal industry, would be converted into grants.

“There will be no need to repay either the principal or the interest,” the Chief Minister added.

Furthermore, several other initiatives and policies were introduced during the same meeting.

Previously, in 2021, under the Mukhya Mantri Tholuwa Udyog Bikash Achoni, the government allocated Rs 1 crore to bolster the bell metal industry, with Rs 50 lakhs specifically designated for raw material procurement.

“The remaining funds will be utilized gradually according to the scheme,” government sources indicated in 2021.

The SGST reimbursement is part of a broader strategy by the Assam government to revitalize and fortify the state's esteemed bell metal industry.