So far the Trust has published 21 books under the scheme and approved another 43 titles which are in various stages of publication.
Aadan Pradan To foster national integration, up to ten of the most rep- resentative and well-known books in each language specially the more recent and contemporary works which would enable readers in one language to understand and, appreciate the way of life, the feelings and the urges of another linguistic region of the country, are being translated into every other language mentioned in the VIII Schedule of the Constitution to provide the country with a set of common books. The project covers representative novels, short stories, anthologies of popular, sketches and travelogues. So far 57 titles have been brought out and 43 titles are in the press. During 1972-73, it is proposed to bring out 140 titles in the various Indian languages.
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The normal activities of the National Book Trust include publishing programmes, organisation of book fairs, book exhibitions, seminars, symposia etc., with a view to fostering bookmindedness and holding of writers' camps to promote interregional understanding through informal meetings of groups of writers in various regional languages.
To project a proper image of the publishing industry in India the Trust also arranges book exhibitions and participates in International Book Fairs held abroad.
Other Activities In order to observe the Silver Jubliee Celebrations of India's Independence, it is proposed to publish a short 'history of the Freedom Movement in an easy style for the young and an "Anthology of Indian Poetry" of eminent poets writing during the Freedom Struggle and those who came on the scene after India became independence. The National Book Trust will also participate in the project for bringing out experimental editions of common reading materials for children sponsored by the Tokyo Book Development Centre, Japan.
Book Promotion in General-National Book Development Board To foster the growth of books in India, the Government of India set up a National Book Development Board in 1967 to lay down guidelines for the development of the Indian book industry and trade in the context of the overall requirement of the country. The Board has on it representatives of the different sectors of book industry- publishers, authors, printers and booksellers-as well as of the various governmental and nongovernmental agencies dealing with the implementation of book programmes. Ordinarily the Board meets once a year. However, the Board sets up Committees for specific purposes. On the expiry of its first term of 3 years the Board was reconstituted in December 1970 with some additional functions.
The Board has so far held six meeting (including one of the reconstituted Board) and has identified the vital areas in the
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field and has made a number of far-reaching recommendations. Partial tax exemption to Indian publishers, liberal credit facilities to book publishers, seminars in the field of book production and distribution, institution of training courses for publishers and booksellers, starting a University course in publishing, setting up of a Central Publication Exchange Unit for making common use of artistic and design works, setting up of a Book Information Centre, rationalising the imports and expanding the exports of books are some of the questions studied. An important recommendation of the Board is to carry out a comprehensive survey of the needs of the Indian Book Industry and Trade in order to recommend a coordinated policy for the promotion of book publishing as a whole. An export committee has been set up to launch this survey which would be the first of its kind in India.
Training Programmes In order to create training facilities for Indian publishers and booksellers which were practically non-existent till recently, a committee set up by the Government of India has suggested the establishment of a training institute by the Federation of Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India. The institute will have a permanent organisational staff to plan and organise such courses with the help of a Technical Director and lecturers drawn for the occasion from the local experts in the field, To start with, two courses a year have been proposed. The duration of each course will be about two weeks. To begin with, the first two courses are proposed to be conducted at Delhi so as to gather experience and set down standards. In the subsequent years, courses will be extended to different regions of the country. If possible, these will be conducted in the regional languages.
During the period under review, Indian nominees participated the following courses:
1. Two nominees of the Government of India attended for a fortnight the International Book Art Exhibition held in Leipzig from May 29, 1971.
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2 A representative of the N.B.T. attended the Second Experts Meeting on Planning Common Reading Materials in Asia in Tokyo from July 20 to 24, 1971.
3. Two nominees of the Indian National Commission for UNESCO attended the Fifth Training Course in Book Production in Asia from 10th September to 9th November, 1971 in Tokyo organised by the Tokyo Book Development Centre under the auspices of UNESCO.
4. Two nominees of the Indian National Commission for UNESCO attended the Regional Seminar on Production, Planning and Distribution of Text and General Books in Asia organised by UNESCO in Kualalumpur (Malaysia) from 29th November to 18th December, 1971.
Export Promotion of Books India is producing books of a fairly high standard some of which have been exported to foreign markets. During 1970-71 India exported books and pamphlets etc., worth about Rs. 1,00,00,000 to about eighty countries. Printing capacity of a fairly high standard is also available in India at comparatively lower rates and the possibility of exporting Indian publishing and printing capacities is being explored.
An Indian publishers delegation visited certain countries in East Africa in February-March 1971 and a six-member team of printers and publishers visited the U.S.A in January 1972.
In addition to participating in the International Book Fairs, the Government of India also provides financial Assistance to publishers to enable them to participate in important International Book Conferences.
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World Book Fair In response to a UNESCO decision to celebrate 1972 as International Book Year, National Book Trust, India, had planned to organise a World Book Fair from January 22 to February 6, 1972. The Fair was to be held in extensive Ferozshah Kotla Grounds in New Delhi. An International Seminar on "Books For The Millions" and a National Writers' Camp were among the varied programmes which were planned as adjuncts to the Fair. Several countries like the USA, the USSR, the UK, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the GDR. Austria, Ireland, Greece, Italy and Japan apart from many State Governments and various organisations administered by the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare and others had agreed to participate.
All arrangements to hold the Fair were proceeding according to schedule to provide for the participation of over 140 leading Publishers and Booksellers from India and abroad. They had booked stalls and reserve dspace for constructing pavilion when the Fair had to be postponed on account of the national emergency and the crisis which overtook the Country. Now, it has been decided to hold this Fair in March.
Import Policy for Books The import policy for books, journals, magazines, children's literature and other educational material is laid down by the CCIE in consultation with this Ministry. A liberal policy is followed in this behalf since this Ministry is of the opinion that in the interest of education there should be free flow of knowledge into the country but at the same time, it has to be ensured that this does not stand in the way of the development of indigenous books. For this purpose the following provision has been added in the Red Book that importers should avoid importing foreign editions of books of which Indian reprints are available.
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Financial Allocations The provision for the major schemes described in this chapter for 1971-72 and 1972-73 are given in the statement below:
(Rs. in 000's)
S. Item Provision for 1971-72 Budget
No Estimates for
Original Revised 1972-73
1. Collaboration Schemes for
low-priced University-Level
Books 125 25 125
2. University Level English
Books by Indian authors. 1,000 500 4,000
3. Aadan Pradan Publications 1,200 1,000 1,000
4. National Book Trust 830 810 880
5. Book Export Promotional
Activities 275 264 350
6. Holding of World Book Fair 450 250 200
7. Text Book Reference Library 100 Merged with
Provision
for Minis-
terial Posts.
8. Documentation of Imported
books .. .. 100
9. National Book Development
Board 290 250 290
10. International Book Year
Celebrations .. .. 120