 BOOK PROMOTION

BOOK PROMOTION

The book promotion activities aim at. promoting the production of books and inculcating the habit of reading. A number of schemes are administered by the Ministry, either directly or through National Book Trust, an autonomous organisation of the Ministry, with the objectives of ensuring availability of good quality Indian books, encouraging indigenous authorship and promoting children's literature in Indian languages.

1. National Book Trust, India

The National Book Trust(NBT) was set up in 1957, with the objectives of encouraging production of reading material at moderate price and fostering book mindedness among people. The Trust provides financial assistance to authors and illustrators for bringing out reasonably priced textbooks and reference books for students of all levels and also for publication of books for children and neo-literates. It also promotes the book reading habit all over the country by :

(a) providing financial assistance for organising book fairs, festivals and exhibitions;

(b) organising symposia and workshops;

(d) setting up of reading Club in schools.

It also promotes Indian books abroad by organising India's participation in international book fairs, To carry out the activities projects smoothly, NBT has proposed an outlay of Rs.409.00 lakhs for Annual Plan 1997--98 as compared to Rs. 348.00 lakhs proposed at RE 1996-97. Out of this the major chunk is earmarked for construction of NBT building and rest for other plan scheme. For the Ninth Plan (1992-97) an outlay of Rs. 14.55 crores be proposed.

2. National Book- Promotion Council

The main advisory body of the Government on matters relating book promotion is the National Book Promotion Council (earlier National Book

Development Council), A proposal for reconstitution of the Council is under consideration.

During 1996-97, an outlay of Rs.2.00 lakhs was made. However, no expenditure was incurred as no meeting of the Council could be convened during its entire term. A provision of Rs.2.00 lakhs is proposed for Annual Plan 1997-98 in anticipation of the Council being set up. Ninth Plan outlay is proposed at Rs.40 lakhs.

3. Book Promotion Activities and Financial Assistance to Voluntary organisation

The Department directly administers the scheme of Book Promotional Activities and Financial Assistance to Voluntary Organisations under which grants are given on ad-hoc basic to voluntary organisation for organising training courses. For Annual Plan 1997-98, an outlay of Rs. 5.00 lakhs is proposed which is at the same level as BE 1996-97. Financial requirement for the Ninth Plan is Rs.40.00 lakhs.

4. Setting up of National Society of Authors

During the VII Five Year Plan it was proposed to set, up a National Society of Authors to serve as a collective organisation to take care of the interests and needs of the authors and other creative people. While this proposal was under consideration, steps were taken for amendments to the Copyright Act, 1957. The Copyright (Amendment) Act, 1994, provides for setting up separate copyright societies for different categories of authors. Hence, the idea of setting up a National Society of Authors has been dropped and the budget provision is proposed to be utilised for, providing financial assistance to newly set up copyright societies.

So far three copyright societies have been registered one each cinematograph films (Society for Copyright regulation of Indian Producers of Films & Television (SCRIPT), musical works (Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS) and sound recordings (Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL). Two of these, viz, IPRS and PPL were already existing societies and the third one is of film producers

and cable TV operators, These societies have not requested for any financial assistance from the government. However, new societies in the field of literary authors, performers, etc., may require financial assistance at the initial stages till the income from copyright works reaches the break-even stage.

In the Annual Plan 1997-98, a sum of Rs. 20.00 lakh is proposed for the purpose as compared to Rs.2.00 lakh BE 1996-97. The enhanced provision is proposed because new societies that are likely to be set tip may require substantial financial assistance at the initial stage for doing copyright business. A total plan provision of Rs. 1.00 crore is proposed for the scheme in the Ninth Five Year Plan.

NEW SCHEME COPY RIGHT

5. Setting up copyright enforcement Cells at the State, Headquarters

Enforcement of the Copyright Act and Rules falls under the purview of the State Police. In view of the specialised nature of the activity, separate enforcement cell for copyright would be required to be set up in every State Headquarters. States have been citing lack of funds as a ground for not setting up strengthening the Copyright Enforcement Cells. In order to encourage the states to set up such a cell, financial assistance may be provided to them, during the Ninth Five Year Plan. Towards this, an amount of Rs.4.80 crore is proposed in the 9th Five Year Plan period @ Rs.3.00 lakh per State/UT per Year for 32 states/UT.

It is proposed that a provision of Rs. 96.00 lakh be made for this scheme in the Annual Plan 1997-98, pending approval of the scheme by the EFC/Planning Commission.

6.Organising Seminar/Workshops on Copyright Matters

Training of enforcement personnel, viz, police as well as creation of public awareness about copyright related issues is of the utmost importance for successful copyright enforcement. One way to do it is through organising seminars and training workshops. A central scheme for giving financial assistance for organising such seminars and training workshops is proposed to be included in the Ninth Five

Year Plan. Towards this purpose, an amount of Rs. 1.50 crore is proposed @Rs 3 0. 00 lakh per year).

It is proposed that a provision of Rs.30.00 lakh be made for this scheme in the Annual Plan 1997-98, pending approval of the scheme by the EFC/Panning Commission.

7. Financial assistance for research on Intellectual Properly Rights

India has a very strong copyright industry We also have a very good copyright law. However, at the academic level, India has not developed much expertise in matters relating to copyright and other intellectual property right matters. With a view to motivating universities/ research organisations to take up research on Intellectual Property Right, a scheme for providing financial assistance to such institutions is proposed in the 9th Five year Plan with a provision of Rs. 100 crore @ Rs 20 lakh per year).

It is proposed that a provision of Rs.20.00 lakh be made for this scheme in the Annual Plan 1997-98, pending approval of the scheme by the EFC/Planning Commission.

8. Modernisation of the Copyright Office

Upgradation of the existing hardware/ software of the Copyright Office Is essential in order to ensure a smooth and structured registration process besides a speedier retrieval of information related to registered works. In addition to the above, there also exists an acute need for a well stocked documentation centre in the Copyright Office. Accordingly, an amount of Rs. 50.00 lakh is proposed in the 9th Five Year Plan @ Rs 10 lakh per year) for the above purpose.

It is proposed that a provision of Rs. 10.00 lakh be made for this scheme in the Annual Plan 1997-98, pending approval of the scheme by the EFC/Planning