Around 60 persons in and around Vijayawada, engaged in the business of printing and supplying textbooks and workbooks to the Andhra Pradesh government for the last 25 years, are living in uncertainty over their future, as the government recently issued a notice inviting tenders from across the country for procuring paper and supply of books.
Usually, Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited (TNPL) supplies paper to the Andhra Pradesh government, which, in turn, supplies the same to printers in the State. The printers, around 60 in number, all having small-scale units with not more than three printing machines, then print the books that are then sent to the government schools in the State.
With the Department of Andhra Pradesh Government Text Book Press (APGTBP) floating tenders on February 2 for supply and procurement of paper, the small-scale printers fear loss of livelihoods.
