Free textbooks: Publishers cry foul

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 20: The All Assam Publishers and Book Sellers’ Association (AAPBSA) came down heavily on the State Government for its decision to provide textbooks free of cost to students in the State.

At a public meeting held at Panbazar here today, AAPBSA president Ajit Kumar Barman and general secretary Dhiraj Goswami said: “We do support the scheme, but the government should see that the scheme doesn’t affect the people who make their both ends meet by selling books meant for schools and colleges. There’s no doubt that the scheme will be a succour for poor students, but not without affecting publishers and book sellers who make their ends meet through publication and selling of books badly.”

The association took a few proposals in this regard, including the demand for cancellation of the scheme for free of cost supply of books to students of Class IX and X, scholarship for BPL students, maintence of book banks in schools, making Assamese compulsory in all government and private schools in the State, etc.

They took out a rally after the meeting and send a memorandum to the Education Minister of the State through Kamrup(M) Deputy Commissioner.