BOOK PROMOTION
Introduction Books constitute the most important tool of education and no country can move ahead in educational, scientific and technical industry. Unesco investigations have clearly shown that more than 50 per cent in the rise of the gross national product in any given country is entire- ly dependent upon the level of education of the people engaged in the production of its goods and services. The level of education is deter- mined by its most effective tool, which is books of quality produced in ever large and larger quantities. Books serve as a repository of the cultural heritage of the people and also as means of disseminating it. The new and continuing discoveries of science and technology and the mass media or communication, tremendous though they are in their impact, have not diminished then importance of books in the present- day context of things.
2. Book publishing in India has come a long way after Independence. Today, India is among the ten largest book producing countries in the world and ranks third, after the USA and the UK, in the production of English titles. India, however, is far behind the developed countries not only in the matter of the per capita production of books but also in the standards of both content and get-up. The average number of copies printed is also about 2500 which is much below the standards of the developed countries.
Need for Books The number of students studying in colleges and other institutions of higher learning estimated at 3,96,745 in 195-51 rose to 45,42,114 in 1979-80. The average growth has been about 10 per cent per annum. With this rapid growth in the number of students seeking higher education, there has been a corresponding increase not only in the number of universities, colleges and other institutions of higher learning in Indian during the past two decades but also in the number of subjects and courses of studies taught in these institutions has also multi- plied manifold. There is need to provide textbooks at all levels, supplementary reading materials and general books for different, age groups books for neoliterates and books on classics in cheaper edi- tions at reasonable prices. Shortage of such books in rural areas is more acute than in urban areas. Ways and means are to be devised by which books published by various agencies in the public and the pri- vate sector find a place in all libraries and can be made available even in the remotest areas at reasonable prices. There is need to improve the quality of printing and binding, keeping the prices of books at reasonable rates, provision of concessional postal rates and suitable arrangements for distribution in rural areas. Means are to be found to provide printing paper at reasonable rates, locating and encouraging authorship, editorial discrimination, book
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production techniques and materials, equitable copyright policy bal- ancing the interests of readers, authors and publishers using mass media for advertisement and publicity, book market development distri- bution of journals and training of personnel are some of the aspects that require due considerations.
4. A major problem, therefore, that India faces is to provide suitable reading material at a reasonable price for all categories and levels of readers including the students, children, the increasing number of neo-literates and the educated classes in general. Believing that for some time to come, Indian Universities would have to rely on books of foreign origin, the Government has adopted a liberal import policy for books. But since the country cannot continue to rely upon external resources of supply to meet the demands for books for a varied catego- ries of readers, a number of schemes have been initiated by the Minis- try of Education for the development of a balanced programme for the production of Indigenous books viz.
Programmes
1. Production of Text and References Books a) Low-priced edition of foreign books.
b) Scheme to subsidise university level text and reference books.
c) Books in regional Languages.
d) Prizes for books adjudged best in regional languages
e) Core books, and
f) Fellowships for writing of books.
2.Children's Literature - Assistance for a) Nehru Bal Pustakalaya scheme operated through national Book Trust.
b) Books published through Children Book Trust.
3.Literature for General Reading a) Adan Prada - scheme to translate books from one language to other Indian languages with a view to foster national integration.
b) General Publication Programme of National Book Trust under various series like National Biography, Folklore of India, World of Today, Young Library and India the land and the people for the young Adults.
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c) Production of literature designed to broaden the understanding of the country, its people, history, cultural and linguistic pattern and progress registered in various sectors or economy through the publica- tions division of the Ministry of I&B.
d) Literature for neo-literates - scheme to award prizes to authors of books for neo-literates being administered through the Directorate of Adult Education.
e) production of books in Urdu through the Bureau for promotion of Urdu and promotion of Books in Sindhi and other languages including Sanskrit.
f) promotion and coordination of literary activities in these Indian languages and publication and distribution of books in these languages not normally published by private publishers through Sahitya Akademi.
Plan of Action in the Seventh Plan 5.Realising that books perform as essential role in promoting the quality of life and facilitate the participation of people in develop- ment activities and contribute to social and national integration, the Working Group has come to the conclusion that it is imperative to take all possible steps to promote the books publishing activity in the country. an all out effort is required to develop the reading habits among the children and the masses and to make right type of reading materials easily available at reasonable prices both in the urban and rural areas. The public library systems needs to be strengthened and infrastructural facilities for improving the publishing industry, viz., supply of paper at reasonable rates, tax concessions, credit facilities, training facilities on the various aspects of publishing especially for the illustration of children's books etc. are required to be provided.
6. Complete statistics relating to the production of books in the country are not available. According to the Unesco Statistical Year Book the number of titles produced during 1981 in USSR were 83,000, in USA 76,973, in UK 42,972 and in India 11,562. The average number of copied printed in India is about 2500 as compared to an average of about 10,000 in the developed countries. With out aim to achieve universalisation of elementary education and to achieve the target of cent per cent literacy by 1990, the demand for books is likely to grow manifolds and therefore, steps are required to activate the publishing industry accordingly.
7. According to an estimate, the number of titles even at present being published is more than 20,000 per annum. The National Library, Calcutta compiles information only in respect of the titles which it receives from the publishers, under the Book Delivery Act. The correct picture is not being reflected because of the publishers do not sent copies of all of their publishers do not send copies of all of their publications to the Library.
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Therefore the need for sending the books to the Library should be publicised and if need be provisions made in the law for supply of copies should e strictly enforced by providing some penal clauses in the Book Delivery Act. Alteratively, the question of compulsory registration under International Standard book Numbering System or registration under the Copyright Act may be examined.
8. We may aim to a product on of 40,000 titles per annum by the end of the Seventh Five Year Plan and fix a target for book exports of Rs. 50 crores per annum to be achieved by 1990. In order to achieve this quantitative target and to bring about qualitative improvements, in the methods of publishing and to quench the thirst for reading among the various categories of readers, the existing schemes with minor changes as explained in the notes below, may be carried out and new schemes as detailed below may be initiated.
1. To set up a National Publishing House. It should act as an apex body and it should have a printing press and facilities for transac- tion into various Indian languages and simultaneous publication of the same in various Indian languages.
2. To provide cheap credits to the publishers, a Book Finance Corpora- tion may be set up.
3. A National Encyclopedia of knowledge for children should be brought out during the Seventh Five Year Plan.
4. An Institute for Training and Research for book promotion should be established.
5. A National Museum of Books may be formed.
6. A Society of Authors should be set up.
7. Specifies series of books may be planned and published, for example a series of:
i) best of best for children books covering exploration, how and way etc.
ii) best of best for adolescents; and
iii) best of best for university students may be brought out. For this purpose a master list of titles which we aim to publish during the Seventh Five Year Plan in cooperation with private and public enter- prises may be drawn up.
8. International standard Book Numbering System may be introduced in India and Statistics relation to book publishers and book production in India brought upto date.
9. A scheme to make a bulk purchase of children books and their dis- tribution through the State Governments may be drawn up.
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10 "20th Century Indo-Soviet Co-publication Literature Project."
11. Book Exchange Programme and visit of delegations of Publishers/Authors under Cultural Exchange programmes.
12. The library movement in the country may be strengthened and a home library movement initiated.
13.Classics may be brought out in different languages.
14. All the awards winning books may be translated into various lan- guages by the Sahitya Akademi.
The steps taken by the State Governments and Union Territories for promotion of books should be coordinated and the State Governments urged to take the required steps for the book promotion in their States.
9. Besides continuing the present schemes in operation with larger outlays recommended by the Working Group, the following new schemes need be initiated in accordance with the recommendations of the Working Group:
1. Setting up of a National Publishing House.
2. Book Finance Corporation.
3. National Encyclopaedia of knowledge.
4. Institute for Training and Research in Publication.
5. National Museum of Books.
6. Society of Authors and Composers of Musical works.
7. Specialised Publications of Planned Series of Books for various categories of persons.
8. Introduction of International Standard/Book Numbering System and Maintenance of Statistics relating to Book Production.
9. Indo-Soviet Co-publication programme.
10. Bulk purchase of childrens' books and their distribution through State Governments.
10. The outlay required for this sector in the Seventh Plan is esti- mated to be of the order of Rs. 30.47 crores, of which Rs. 18.35 crores are for the continuing schemes.
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