Rationalise duty on newsprint: INS to PM

A delegation of 25 members of the INS executive committee, which met Singh at his residence yesterday, apprised him of the economic challenges the newspaper industry has been facing.

INS president Jacob Mathew spoke of the financial stress that the industry was undergoing on account of rising newsprint prices.

He said that current newsprint prices had touched unprecedented levels, and could rise further. As a result, the economics of producing a newspaper had been greatly strained.

Noting that the press plays a major role in the development of the country, the Prime Minister said its economic viability was important to its freedom and vitality. He said his government appreciated the constructive role of the press in the dissemination of policies and the functioning of democracy.

Singh said he would be happy to meet print media industry leaders once a year, so that the industry would be able to share its concerns with the Government and major policy issues could receive the desired attention.