The Kannada Book Authority (KBA) has decided to bring out a series of books on the history of the Kannada printing and publishing industry.
After a meeting with stakeholders here on Tuesday, KBA chairperson Vasundhara Bhupathi told reporters the documentation would come in three volumes — each dedicated to the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
The authority has constituted an editorial board of five — M.H. Krishnaiah, A.V. Navada, Apparao Akkoni, Ramakanth Joshi and Sujnana Murthy — for the purpose. The board will take help from writers, research scholars and others to compile the documents in a year, she said.
Referring to a query raised by the Mangaluru-based publisher Ashoka Vardhana via email, Dr. Bhupathi said documentation was necessary to pass on authentic information about the printing and publishing industry to the coming generations.
While some writers wanted the documentation to be done only in digital form, others wanted it to be in print form as well. Dr.. Bhupathi noted that many felt the digital form cannot replace print. She added that the books would be provided to public libraries, colleges and universities for free, apart from being sold to the public.
Other initiatives
Dr. Bhupathi, who assumed office a couple of months ago, said she has a number of plans to promote the habit of book reading among the masses. She said a ‘Pustaka Jatha’ would be organised from Bidar to Kodagu with a mobile book display-cum-sale unit. Talks are on with the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation to provide buses for this, she said.
Similarly, the authority will conduct a conference of publishers for the first time in the State in December, she said. The KBA also plans to launch online sale of publications.
Support for booksellers
The KBA plans to offer subsidies to entrepreneurs who wish to open bookstalls to sell, among other things, publications from the authority.
Dr. Bhupathi told reporters that though the authority has 26 outlets across the State, the general feeling is the number is inadequate. If any entrepreneur intends to set up a book stall, the KBA will offer ₹5,000 subsidy — ₹2,500 towards rent and ₹2,500 as honorarium, she said.
The GST effect
Dr. Bhupathi on Tuesday said the 18% GST imposed on books has considerably affected the country’s publication industry. Earlier, publishers used to pay a maximum of 12% as sales tax, depending on the material used for the book. The authority has urged the GST board to reduce the tax, she said.
