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**News Article:**

**Sitharaman Urges Food Manufacturers to Embrace Sustainable Practices, Defends GST Reforms**

**MADURAI, September 19, 2025** – Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants Association’s 80th-anniversary celebration in Madurai on Friday, urging food product manufacturers to proactively adopt sustainable business practices to align with evolving regulations.

“Rather than complain when new rules are implemented, manufacturers should gradually embrace these changes,” Sitharaman stated. She outlined key areas for improvement, including digitizing farmer data and produce for e-commerce traceability, implementing sustainable packaging, integrating into the global supply chain, and prioritizing the domestic market. Sitharaman acknowledged that these changes would take time and effort but stressed their indispensability.

The Finance Minister also defended the Goods and Services Tax (GST), addressing past criticisms from the opposition. She refuted the “Gabbar Singh Tax” label, highlighting the increase in GST participation from 6.5 million to 15.1 million people. She further explained that the simplification of GST slabs from four (5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%) to two (5% and 18%) was a gradual process hindered by the economic recovery period following the Covid-19 pandemic. Sitharaman emphasized that the GST reform was a collaborative effort involving all state Finance Ministers, ensuring inclusivity.

“These GST reforms, a ‘revolution’ as we proudly call it, fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making everything accessible to everyone,” Sitharaman added. She highlighted the elimination of tax on health insurance premiums, a fact she pointed out, the opposition failed to acknowledge while criticizing the GST.

Sitharaman concluded by calling on the association to develop a visionary document, “2047,” to chart their role in the nation’s future development.

The event also included a welcome address by association president S. V. S. S. Velshankar and a historical overview by association advisor S. P. Jeyapragasam. Honorary secretary S. Sai Subramaniam delivered the vote of thanks.

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