Bihar keeps tobacco out of tax net

Patna: The Bihar government Tuesday decided to keep raw chewing tobacco out of the tax net to help farmers who grow tobacco in the state.

The decision to keep tobacco free from tax was taken at a state cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Recently, a delegation of tobacco growers met Kumar with a demand to keep them away from tax payment, sources said.

Bihar is a major cultivator of tobacco and the state has a institute for promoting cultivation of tobacco.

The state cabinet also gave green signal to draft Bihar Fire Service Bill, 2013 that intends to replace the Bihar Fire Service Act, 1948.

It also approved proposals related to education, agriculture, finance and prison departments.