India: Disabled Citizens Left in Limbo: GST Exemption Portal Non-Functional for Five Months
Special News Report
Thousands of persons with disabilities across India are facing serious difficulties as the GST Exemption Certificate Scheme (GECS) portal, which provides GST concessions on vehicle purchases for eligible disabled citizens, has reportedly remained under maintenance for nearly five months.
Applicants claim that the prolonged shutdown has left numerous applications pending, preventing eligible beneficiaries from availing themselves of a government-backed scheme designed to improve mobility and independence.
One of the biggest concerns raised by applicants is the lack of transparency and accountability. According to users, the portal does not provide clear details of the responsible officers or officials handling grievances. As a result, applicants are forced to visit multiple government offices in search of assistance, often without receiving any concrete response.
Adding to the frustration, several applicants allege that the helpdesk email address displayed on the portal is non-functional. Users report receiving delivery failure notifications when attempting to contact the support team, leaving them with no effective channel to seek guidance or updates regarding their applications.
Disability rights advocates argue that while navigating government offices can be challenging for any citizen, it becomes significantly more difficult for persons with disabilities, who often face additional physical, financial, and logistical barriers. Many applicants have reportedly been moving between different government offices in an attempt to obtain information about the status of the scheme.
Citizens have expressed concern that a critical public service remaining inaccessible for months reflects poorly on administrative responsiveness. They have urged the Ministry of Heavy Industries to take immediate steps to restore the portal, activate support channels, and provide clear contact details for responsible officials.
Applicants have also appealed to Union Minister for Heavy Industries, H. D. Kumaraswamy, and Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, requesting urgent intervention to resolve the issue and ensure that eligible beneficiaries are not deprived of their rightful benefits.
Disability rights groups and affected applicants are calling for the immediate restoration of the GECS portal, improved grievance redressal mechanisms, and greater transparency so that persons with disabilities can access government benefits without unnecessary hardship.
