OPA takes serious note on circular issued by Joint Secretary, GoI

Ludhiana: The Offset Printers Association (OPA) has taken serious note on the circular issued by the Joint Secretary, Government of India under office memorandum dated 2 September, 2020. 

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Kamal Chopra, said, “The 250,000 printers of the country are already facing the crunch of lockdown and many printers who were not able to afford their livelihood already facing closures. The printers always look forward to New Year and many are dependent only on such work. Printers are facing huge problems, due to this forced lockdown. One of their major source of income comes from the educational institutions, which are not allowed to function due to pandemic. Depending on the government work the printers were eagerly waiting for the orders of calendars and dairies which is an annual feature and another source of income for the 85% Micro and Small printers of the country. With these orders, the hope of survival for this key industry is dismal.”

Prof. Chopra added that the instructions issued by the government are not valid because:
•    As per the study published in the International Journal of Educational Research (58 (2013) 61-68), the results indicate that reading linear narrative and expository texts on computer screen leads to poorer reading comprehension than reading the same text on paper. Thus it is clear that printed word is more effective than the digital force.
•    As per the statics available only less than 50% Indians are accustomed to the internet, for other more than 51% only printed word is final and to be believed. These 51% Indians are only dependent on wall calendars and diaries to find the date of festivals to fix their engagements. They always turn towards wall to see the next date, if the calendars are not printed, it is going to be difficult time not only for the printers but also the 990 million Indian people who are without Internet. 
•    Printing or say the printed word is democratic, it is accessible by anyone, anytime, anyplace without special readers or energy.  
•    You cannot achieve with pixels on a screen the look and feel of ink on paper. The beautifully printed calendars/diaries say and impress much more than the here today gone tomorrow messages on screen.
•    Sometime in the case of electricity failure of the hard disk crashes, all the memories will get vanish in a moment, but the printed word is real and remain visible even without any energy.

Prof. Chopra requested the government to withdraw these orders with immediate effect for the relief of Small and Micro entrepreneurs who are already suffering very badly.