NEW DELHI, INDIA, July 6, 2017: India is looking about for the acknowledgement of Ayurveda in Singapore as a traditional medicine and has been in talks with Singapore for the protection, propagation and certification of Ayurveda as such. On June 21, Singapore hosted the second International Conference on Ayurveda. ”People look at the rising costs of medical treatments, the side effects of chemicals, of dealing with the lifestyle diseases which are growing both in developed and undeveloped countries, people are turning to traditional medicines, whether it is Chinese or Indian and Ayurveda is suddenly becoming very popular,” said Jawed Ashraf, India’s High Commissioner to Singapore. Ayurveda, the traditional Hindu system of medicine, is completely naturalistic and comprehensive in nature. Jawed Ashraf talks about the global growth of Ayurveda by stating that the parts of Latin America, Asia and Africa have accepted Ayurveda as any other healthcare systems.
HYDERABAD, INDIA, July2, 2017 (Deccan Herald): It seems even gods cannot exempt themselves from GST (the newly instituted Goods and Services Tax), as 171 temples in Andhra Pradesh above US$31,000 income have come under the new tax regime. There are 23,834 temples in the state, of which 45 temples come under the $155,000 income category, 63 temples up to $4 million and seven temples with more than $4 million annual income, including Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the country’s richest.
HYDERABAD, INDIA, July 3, 2017 (Deccan Chronicle): Devotees visiting major temples have to pay more from July. Major temples, which have more than US$31,000 annual revenue, are brought under GST purview. There are 149 such temples in Telangana state. Section 73 of the GST Act states renting of rooms, where charges are $15.50 or more per day, renting of premises, community halls, Kalyanamandapam or open area where charges are $155 or more per day, will attract 18 per cent tax. Telangana endowment minister A. Indrakaran Reddy said that there were 149 temples that earn over $31,000 annual revenue. Out of which, 16 temples had over $155,000 annual revenue while three had over $4 million annual revenue, he said.
A ”Dial-a-Prayer” app has been released for atheists. You call it up, it rings and rings, but nobody answers.
