Textbook tenders and textbook piracy

As the current academic year ends, appropriate state and central government agencies have already started logistical preparation for the next academic year.

Printweek

Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) has invited tenders printing and supplying textbooks for class I through class VII for academic year 2014-15. The call for sealed tenders was published in various leading dailies across the country.

Further information regarding the procedure of submitting the tender and other details can be accessed at: http://www.jepc.nic.in/Tender.htm andhttp://www.jharkhand.gov.in/

In other news related to textbooks, National Council of Educational research and Training (NCERT) have issued a circular to reduce piracy of textbooks. NCERT textbooks come with a watermark of its logo on most of the textbook pages. This watermark on the textbook pages can be used to distinguish between a genuine copy and a pirated copy.

Many photocopying shops around educational institutions undertake unauthorised copying of books which also burn a hole in to publisher’s revenues.

According to Manas Saikia, founding member of the Association of Publishers in India about 40% of India's textbooks market is affected by piracy, and that it is largely controlled by organised criminals.

Source: PrintWeek