It is common to see roadside vendors selling substandard helmets which do not carry the mandatory ISI mark despite the ban on the sale of such helmets. These helmets are of very little effectiveness in protecting the head of the rider in case of a fall or an accident. Hence, it is important for the rider to wear a branded helmet with ISI mark. Wearing a head-gear by a two-wheeler rider has been made mandatory by law. It is a fact that a branded ISI mark helmet can prevent a head injury and hence avoid fatality due to an accident. However, it must be said that the price of these ISI mark helmets could be prohibitive for the common man who could be attracted by the low priced helmets sold by the roadside. It is pertinent to note that the helmet attracts an 18% GST besides other taxes. In order to make the ISI mark helmets available at an affordable price to the common man it would be desirable for the State government to make these helmets available free of all taxes by absorbing the various taxes. This will go a long way in reducing the price of a branded helmet so that more riders go for these helmets rather than the cheaper variety helmets available by the roadside.
