Sivakasi print industry creates a recovery plan

In addition, the Sivakasi Master Printers Association (SMPA) has appealed to the Government of Tamil Nadu for inclusion of printing industry in the thrust sector.

Only micro industries all over the state and located in government sponsored industrial estate and industries that comes under the thrust sector are eligible for subsidy. Also, Sivakasi is not identified as backward area and printing units are mostly in the small scale sector and hence not eligible for any subsidy.

According to A Balasubramanian, president, SMPA, “Since, most of the printing units in Sivakasi are small scale industries and located outside industrial estate, the print industry is denied an opportunity to avail the subsidies. Printing industry is an indispensable industry and is predominant in social, economic, literacy among others. Still the industry has been sidelined and not included in thrust sector. ”

Printing technology is constantly getting upgraded and there is a need to purchase new as well as second-hand machineries to be abreast with new and international technologies. This exercise of importing machines runs into crores of rupees.  Balasubramanian added, "The printing industry is ready for expansion and diversification through.  technology upgradation. We feel the Sivakasi printing industry is in dire need of direct subsidy from government.”

Highlighting further issues faced by printers, R N Sutharsan, editor of Print Focus said, “The fluctuation in paper prices further adds to the dilemma of printers. During January and February of 2013, the ex-mill price increase of paper was Rs. 2500 per tonne every month. The price is expected to soar further and adding to the suffering of print industry.”

SMPA has successfully launched MSE Cluster Development Programme and a Common Facility Center for printing industry. The project has been approved by Government of India and state government of Tamil Nadu to create the Common Facility Center wherein the print fraternity will be provided with governmental financial support.

Sivakasi boasts of some of the most known print factories in the country. This includes: Srinivas Fine Arts, Lovely Offset, Sel Jegat, Safire Lithrographers, Bell, Standard Printers and now Gopsons. Besides being an ISO 9001:2000, these firms boast of full-fledged, state-of-the-art in-house facilities for producing printed products.