RS elders voice concern over delay in implementing wage board proposals

Also critical of the practice of underpricing newspapers, he said: “A newspaper which costs Rs 10 to print is priced at just Rs 1.50 in the market. Under normal circumstances, this would have been regarded as an ideal situation (for the readers). But this portends a new danger for the newspaper industry.”

He said there was no doubt that the advertising revenue of major newspaper houses helped to offset the losses accrued from the low pricing. But the mad rush for reducing the cover price was making it difficult for small and medium newspapers to survive in the price war.

“Several good newspapers are fighting for survival due to this dangerous trend. It is unfortunate that the newspaper industry and Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) have both failed to check this pricing war. Therefore, it is upon the Government to intervene and rescue the situation,” he said.

He said the Government should ensure that the price of a newspaper and a magazine was at least equivalent to the cost of the paper it was being printed on.

“If no effective steps are taken, the day is not far when most of the newspapers in the country will be compelled to close down, leading to unemployment. It will also adversely effect the freedom of press if the business of providing information is monopolised by a few big newspaper houses,” he said.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitly assured the Rajya Sabha members that his Ministry would convey to the Union Labour Minister their concerns on the delay in the finalisation of the recommendations of the Manisana Singh Wage Board.