Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: In a meeting here today J&K Offset Printers’ Association (JKOPA) has highlighted the problems faced by printing industry of Jammu region and has urged upon the J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to intervene.
The meeting was chaired by Sudesh Kumar Gupta, Association president who claimed that last year Finance Department of J&K government had issued an order to the government departments to get their printing works done by the Government Press.
The Association president claimed that rates of Government Press are very high and quality of work is also very poor as compared to that of the private players but due to vested interests all the work is being done from there thus depriving the local printers of their livelihood.
Gupta also informed that as per the latest government instructions all the departments are required to get ‘Coffee Table Books’ containing mention of developments done by them in their respective fields.
He claimed that most of the departments got the ‘Coffee Table Books’ printed from ‘non-printers’ and that too from vendors who are not registered printers and the work was done without any tendering.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic most of small printers had to keep their units closed in lockdown and suffered a lot and are now facing financial crisis,” he said.
The Association has also demanded compensation for the Printing Industry for the losses suffered by it during the lockdown period.
The Association office bearers have urged upon the J&K Lieutenant Governor to order Government Departments, Corporations and PSU to get their printing work done from the local printers.
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