Tax on meditation

THE government has proposed tax on meditation courses in the proposed budget for 2016-17 which seems illogical. Meditation is a self-development programme and is considered as an alternative treatment technique in the western world. By learning Meditation techniques, people can get rid of 70 per cent of psychosomatic diseases. The government's guidelines for hypertension titled "National guidelines for management of hypertension in Bangladesh" (page 18) encourage people to do meditation to curb hypertension. The guidelines read "overall relaxation interventions were associated with statistically reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and clinicians should encourage stress relaxation by yoga, meditation, stretching and breathing exercise as appropriate." People who practice meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques are less dependent on doctors and hospitals and spend less on buying healthcare. As a result, the government also has to spend less after healthcare facilities. In the western world people who practice meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques enjoy special concession in many areas. We hope that the government will realize the importance of meditation and withdraw its proposal for tax on meditation.
Mohammad Zonaed Emran
Banasree, Rampura.