NEW DELHI: Indian Federation of Small and Medium Newspapers (IFSMN) Aug. I said the govt should announce a three-year newsprint policy without any further ad hocism.
Addressing a Press conference here the working President of the IFSMN Pushpa Pandeya said there was likely to be a hike in the cost of imported standard newsprint and glazed newsprint.
This Pandeya said would be unethical and punitive as the hike would be to meet the cost of STC’s default.
She demanded Rs 2000 million tonnes rebate for small newspapers and Rs 1000 per tonne for medium newspapers so that they can survive
Pandeya also said the posting newspaper of periodical should be made available from the nearest post office of the publisher’s office. She complained of delay in postal transmission of small newspapers.
All-India Small and Medium Newspapers Federation President Harbhajan Singh demanded that the govt take the STC to task for bungling and conspiracy to throttle the Press’ in the country.
He urged the members of Parliament to take up the cause of the newspaper industry in Parliament.
The federation will organize a protest demonstration on Aug.8 when the newsprint price fixation committee will meet here the federation chief said.
Thousands of editor’s journalists and workers associated with the newspaper industry will turn jobless due to the unbearable price rise he added
Meanwhile efforts are on to lessen the impact of the proposed hike in the price of newsprint following depreciation in the value of the rupee.
An official spokesman said the matter was discussed between the Information and Broadcasting and the Finance Secretaries at a meeting here Aug.1. The Chairman of the STC and a senior official of the Commerce Ministry were also present.
The STC is meeting again to find ways to lessen the impact of the proposed increase. Something may emerge this week-end he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 9, 1991
