BOOK PROMOTION
10.1.1 The books are the most important tool of education and no country can move ahead in education, scientific and technical fields without a viable national authorship and publishing industry. In fact, books are needed in every spheres of life, especially when a human being is in the process of getting acquainted with the world for the first time. As such books play the role of an architect in building the intelligentsia of a country.
10.1.2 We are committed to the promotion of books and the book reading habit, as a means of human resource development therefore the Government of India has set up a separate Book Promotion & Copyright Division in the Department of Education. This Division takes all the policy decisions relating to the fostering of book mindedness in the country, development of the book publishing industry, laying of import and export policy for books and development of indigenous book publishing industry and also the implementation of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957.
National Book Trust 10.2.1 The National Book Trust, India(NBT) an autonomous Organisation under this Department, was set up in 1957 to promote books, habit of reading and fostering book mindedness among people. The activities of NBT include (i) publishing (ii) promotion of Indian books abroad (iii) promotion of books and reading (iv) assistance to authors and publishers and (v) promotion of childrens' literature. The NBT publishes books for general readers on a variety of subjects in various languages like Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu at an affordable price. The trust also provides financial assistance to authors, illustrators for bringing out reasonably priced text books and reference books for the diploma, undergraduate and post- graduate levels and also for publication of books for children and neo-literates. It also promotes books and cultivates the book reading habit all over the country by (a) organising book fairs, festivals and exhibitions, (b) holding seminars, symposia and workshops- (c) providing financial assistance for organising book fairs and exhibitions, (d) sponsoring celebration of National Book Week and (e) setting up of Readers' club in schools. The Trust also promotes Indian Books abroad by organising India's participation in International Book Fairs and organising exhibitions of select Indian publications brought out by various Indian Publishers.
(a) Publishing 10.2.2 The National Book Trust provides general reading material for all segments of society and for all age groups, moderately priced books of fiction and non-fiction on
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a variety of topics in English, Hindi and 11 other major Indian languages are brought out under the Trust's well defined series. In addition, on an experimental basis, select titles for children have been translated into some regional languages like Ao, Bhil, Gao, Gondi, Khasi, Mising and Mizo.
10.2.3 Special attention is paid by the Trust to those generous of publishing despite their importance, have been neglected in Indian languages such as information material for non-technical readers, NBT has started reprinting/translating significant foreign titles including UNESCO publication and rights for number of other foreign publications/titles are also being procured. 'Samaantar Kosh,' the first ever thesaurus in Hindi which was released by the President of India on 13th December, 1996 is the special mention during the period under report.
10.2.4 During 1995-96, 542 titles were brought out which included 55 originals, revised editions, 232 translations and 255 reprint. and it is likely to cross the figure of 600 during the end of 1996-97.
10.2.5 Total net sales of NBT publications during 1995-96 amounted to Rs.250.54 lakhs (net) which is the highest ever. This is 32% more over the sale in preceding years. Revenue from the sale of books also increased by more than 10% to Rs.250.21 lakhs, the highest ever in any financial year. During 1996-97, the Trust hopes to increase the net sales and sales revenue by 20%, thus crossing Rs.300.00 lakhs mark.
10.2.6 During 1995-96, 288 towns were visited for the promotion of NBT publications and 87 booksellers/voluntary organisations enrolled as agents and distributors. The Trust has stepped up the coverage of the market by deciding to visit all towns with urban population of 1 lakh or more with very good result and more than 200 new agents and distributors are likely to be enrolled during 1996-97. Apart from this, 1000 new members are likely to be registered during 1996-97 taking the membership to more than 4000.
(b) Assistance To Authors & Publishers 10.2.7 To promote publication of reasonably priced books for higher education, NBT gives financial assistance to authors and publishers for text books and reference material. Under this scheme for the subsidised publication of books, only such books are subsidised for which a definite need is felt and which relate to subject areas where books of an acceptable standard are either not available or are expensive as to be beyond the means of the students. The scope of the scheme has been widened to provide assistance for the publication, in Indian languages, of thought provoking works of non-fiction too, This year the most significant reference work subsidised among others is the second edition of the two-volume text book of Neurosurgery edited by Prof B. Ramamurthi and Prof P.N.Tandon.
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(c) Book Promotion 10.2.8 Book promotional activities of the NBT include organisation of book fairs, book festivals, workshops, seminars and symposia on related topics, celebration of National Book Week etc. During 1996-97, the Trust has already organised 33 exhibitions in different localities of Delhi, 15 in its villages, 11 exhibitions of Urdu publications in UP, 10 Gandhi Jayanthi exhibitions in the villages of Rajasthan under NBT-LOK Jumbish joint project. Altogether, more than 250 exhibitions will be put up this year under this project.
10.2.9 Exhibitions in 28 villages in Maharashtra will be organised with the assistance of UNICEF followed by in 3 districts of Andhra Pradesh. To mark the 50th year of India's independence, NBT organised 2 National Book Fairs one at Hyderabad from 30th November to 8th December 1996 and the other at Indore from 1-9 February 1997. NBT has planned to organise short-term courses on publishing. The first 13- week course "An Introduction to publishing"- was organised in July- October, 1996 which was highly successful. As in previous years, NBT celebrated National Book Week from 14-20, November, 1996.
10.2.10 For organising Book Promotional Activities abroad, the Trust participated in the Book Fair organised by the Pakistan Library Association in Lahore, Bologna Childrens' Book Fair, the Pan-African Childrens' Book Fair, Nairobi, Zimbabwe International Book Fair and Frankfurt Book Fair and organised exhibitions at Capetown, Jakarta and Moscow. NBT will also be participating in Ghana International Book Fair, Srilanka-India Book Fair, Cairo Childrens' Book Fair and Dhaka Book Fair.
Book Promotional Activities and Financial Assistance to Voluntary
Organisations 10.3.0 Under this scheme, grants are given on adhoc basis for organising training courses, seminars, workshops, conventions etc. to voluntary organisations for organising courses, Seminars, Workshops, Conventions etc. During 1995-96, a sum of Rs.2.57 lakhs was released to various organisations, During 1996-97, a grant of Rs.51,244/- has been sanctioned for release to Authors Guild of India. The Federation of Indian Publishers, Delhi has been granted Rs. 1.00 lakh for organising their convention during 1995-96.
National Book Development Council 10.4.1 The National Book Development Council(NBDC), an advisory forum representing authors, publishers, book sellers etc. was set up In 1967. The Council was last reconstituted in 1990 and its term expired in November, 1993. The proposal for reconstituting the Council was approved by the then FIRM and its composition was
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decided. After its reconstitution, the Council will be known as National Book Promotion Council (NBPC). During 1996-97, an outlay of Rs.2.00 lakhs was made.
Export and Import Policy for Books 10.5.0 Under the current Import Policy (1992-97) for Books and Publications which was amended as on 31.3.95, all kinds of books including magazines and journals etc. are freely importable without any restrict-Ions by any individual/organisation including childrens' literature.
International Standard Book Numbering System (ISBN) 10.6.1 The International Standard Book Numbering System (ISBN) aims at boosting the export of indigenous publications at the international business arena and to minimise to the maximum day-to-day book trade practices in business. It is an international system by which a distinct identifying number is assigned to each book. In addition to the book trade, the system is very helpful to the libraries and information systems and to research scholars. ISBN system is playing a dominant role in making the book industry a modern one. In view of the above, the Agency has been making registration of Indian Publishers under the ISBN system and alotting them blocks of ISBNs according to their book production programme spread over 15-20 years. From 1st January, 1985 to 20th January, 1997, 3400 big and small publishers and authors have become the members of the system and thousands of their publications today bear the ISBN number.
10.6.2 Presently the Agency is stressing hard for the total adoption of the ISBN system. For achieving this goal, the Agency participates in various Book Fairs and also send advertisements in the leading Newspapers through DAVP. During 1996-97, the agency participated in Hyderabad National Book Fair, Patna Book Fair, and set up ISBN free registration counter for the benefit of the publishers in the 22nd Calcutta Book Fair from 29.1.1997 to 7.2.1997.
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