Publishers to protest in front of Assembly today

Allege irregularities in purchase of books by Education Dept

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 3

Publishers from across the country will protest in front of the Vidhan Sabha tomorrow against the alleged irregularities in the purchase of books by the state Education Department.

“We have pointed out gross irregularities in the purchase of books under the Samagr Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) by the state Education Department. There has been a deadlock between the government and the publishers for the past two months. The publishers have assembled here to lodge a protest tomorrow.

The North-Central Publishers Sangh and the Akhil Bharatiya Hindi Prakashak Sangh have given the call to protest in front of the Assembly and noted publisher from Raipur Satya Prakash Singh is leading them.

The publishers have met with local writers and leaders of political parties and apprised them of the alleged irregularities committed by the Education Department.

Sanjay Sharma, a publisher from Delhi, alleged that the Education Department had planned to give work to eight firms registered at the same address. It was brought to notice of the Project Director and the Education Secretary but to no avail. Even the Education Minister did not take the issue seriously.

Arun Maheshwari of Vani Prakashak said that the Education Department should refrain from giving work to three or four groups and not ignore quality books published by renowned publishers.

Satya Prakash Singh said that the publishers were ready to give 35 per cent discount but the government wants only 10 per cent discount, which raises suspicion. If the Education Department does not review its decision, they would intensify the agitation.

Vibhore Aggrawal, a leading publisher from Uttar Pradesh, said that it was for the first time that not even one book by major publication centres of Allahabad, Kanpur, Agra and Varanasi had been selected.

RK Yadav, Vice-Chairman of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindi Prakashak Sangh, said that in no state the Education Department had taken such a decision that publishers were forced to hold a protest in front of the Vidhan Sabha.