High import duty on paper decried

High import duty — twenty per cent — on paper is forcing the book publishers to get their work done in the neighbouring Asian countries such as Malaysia,Singapore,China etc and hence they are bringing the published book in India,which is costing them about 40% less as compared to India. So the printing industry is demanding from government to make the import of paper free so that Indian printing industry can flourish,said P Chander, president,All-India Federation of Masters Printers,on his visit to the city. Chander had come to inaugurate the newly constructed committee hall of Off-set Printers Association,Ludhiana,and also to distribute print awards to the printers of North India.

Chander is the president of 58 affiliated associations of master printers all across the country. He said,“This exodus of the printing industry is going on for the past 2-3 years,while the machinery in India is far better as compared to Asian countries. Apart from this,the government is even planning to impose safeguard duty on paper,which we are opposing tooth and nail.”

Fluctuating prices of paper are also because of limited supply of paper in India and lack of free import. In the current year,the prices increased by Rs 50 a kg in domestic industry.

Further,he said that Industry was facing shortage of trained labour and for that a tie-up has been done with the Director General,Education and Training,to set up skilled training centres in India. As per the agreement,four such centres will be put up in India which 50% expenses for training will come from the government while the rest will be borne by the association.

The association so far has identified Bangalore as one of the sites. It will be providing three-month training courses to the existing employees and even to the freshers as well. The associations are also setting up centres at regional level as well,because labour is becoming a big problem,he added.