Demand to recognize book publishing sector as an industry

Kathmandu: Speakers in an interaction have demanded that the book publishing sector be recognized as an industry and urged for the necessary facilitation from the State for the same.

Calling for considering discounts on the customs charges on the books, the speakers in the program organized on the sidelines of the ongoing South Asia International Book Fair 2023 in Bhrikutimandap said that the book publishing sector was academic and service business.

President of the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee, under the parliament, Bhanubhakta Joshi emphasized that both government and private agencies entrusted with publishing and distribution of school textbooks should deliver on time and render service to the students and parents timely. He pledged to enhance advocacy on issuing national book policy, recognizing the book publishing sector as an industry, and adjusting the price of textbooks.

Similarly, the Director General of the Education Development and Human Resources Centre Deepak Sharma demanded that the schools should use textbooks approved by the Curriculum Development Centre and called for collaboration with the private sector to maintain its quality. Ekta Publication’s Proprietor Ramchandra Timothy viewed that the State should consider concession to the publishers, stating that the publishers were quitting the publication business due to economic recession.

Nawaraj Bajgain, Buddha Publication’s Proprietor, demanded the earliest issuance of the National Book Policy and consideration of the price of the textbooks that were not adjusted for 11 years. The Book Fair, inaugurated by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on November 21, will go through November 25.

There are 180 stalls of book publishers, producers, and distributors from over 15 countries including Nepal, India, China, Bangladesh, the USA, and Egypt among others, according to the organizers Federation of Nepal Books and Stationery Business and Current Media and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd. The Fair received students from over 60 students today alone, shared Shiva Sagar Sharma, General-Secretary of the Federation.

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